What is the (probably software related) job that I want called, and how can I get that job now rather than later? Obscenely lengthy explanation inside. [more inside]posted by anonymous at 10:27 PM PST - 25 comments

My husband recently recieved a death-threat via email from a former coworker. We want to know what we can do to track his home address, car, and other stuff, so we don't run into him. [more inside]posted by beezy at 10:04 PM PST - 26 comments

An adolescent relative in her senior year of high school is suffering depression, and recently spoke to a psychiatrist about suicide, which resulted in her near-hospitalization. She's taken Zoloft, and done some therapy -- what now? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:41 PM PST - 14 comments

I'm working on an electric recumbent bicycle using a Bike-E as the bike part. I want to hang my batteries below the seat by building two containers to hang on the sides of the Bike-E's alloy beam body. What's the best way to build the container? [more inside]posted by diode at 9:33 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for a new TV stand. I have some guidelines as to what I'm looking for, and I'm having a hard time finding something that meets them. [more inside]posted by phaded at 9:01 PM PST - 5 comments

Say your friend told you a year ago he's gay. Is it ok to pass that information along to a mutual friend, a year later, with whom he has not had direct contact? No one in this equation is afraid of gaiety. posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:39 PM PST - 37 comments

Another longshot hardware question, but not the wood table kind: I have an OLD Dell PowerEdge 350. I'm running OpenSUSE 10.3. I'd like to monitor system stats like processor temperature and drive status via the normal IPMI drivers. This should be possible; I can get it working on a 1650 using the drivers from Dell's linux website. It doesn't mention the 350 anywhere. Ideas? posted by SpecialK at 8:03 PM PST - 2 comments

Strange Hardware question (not that kind of hardware): I cannot for the life of me find any information on a particular fastener used in mating the two halves of a large wooden table. [more inside]posted by barc0001 at 7:06 PM PST - 5 comments

I need new glasses. My style sense is atrocious... how can I find out what frames are in fashion, and which of those suit my overall look? [more inside]posted by Slap*Happy at 6:32 PM PST - 21 comments

I live in university apartment housing with no overhead lighting in my bedroom. When I am in bed trying to study, I sometimes have difficulty reading what I am supposed to be studying due to a lack of light in the room. I wear glasses but not for reading but either way, with or without my glasses, my eyes ache while trying to read. What I think I need is more light coming from behind me instead of from the front of me, where the only light is currently coming from via my desk lamp, whose head I have angled upward and towards the wall so the light hits the wall and diffuses throughout the room to illuminate it as brightly as one 60 Watt bulb can. [more inside]posted by lilacorlavender at 5:41 PM PST - 37 comments

My apartment was burglarized a week ago Saturday. They took jewelry that isn't worth much but that meant the world to me, and money. The police came and took a report but seeing as this is NYC, my case file is probably already buried. I'm not sure what to do now. [more inside]posted by firevoice at 5:23 PM PST - 10 comments

I've recently been to Cuba and am very curious as to why the embargo continues. The cold war is over. Cuba is not a threat to the U.S. What am I missing? posted by cookie googleman at 5:18 PM PST - 28 comments

One of my hard drives threw a SMART error last night, but the symptoms are inconsistent with the self-diagnosis. What is the best way to do further testing? [more inside]posted by Ziggy Zaga at 4:59 PM PST - 9 comments

I'd like to know how to more quickly add files to my iTunes Library, under Windows. I download mp3's directly into the folder "iTunes Music," which is where the "Library" is stored. But to actually add them to the Library I am presently going to "File/Add Folder to Library" and then designating the folder "iTunes Music." I can't designate a particular downloaded file, or even a subdirectory for the artist downloaded, because the directory or folder "iTunes Music" is huge and the files are often lost in there somewhere.
When I click on adding the folder "iTunes Music" to the Library, it takes forever and seems like it is adding files and looking for artwork for files in the folder that were added long ago. Is there some set of commands I should be using instead, that would simply supplement the Library with more recently added tunes, or that would add only the tunes/files from the directory that aren't already in the library? posted by swlabr at 4:45 PM PST - 10 comments

I like to learn the many ways a smile might be interpreted in different countries and cultures. I'd also be interested in examples of the influencial power of a smile. posted by JaySunSee at 4:24 PM PST - 11 comments

I'm thinking of nuking my hard drive and reinstalling Windows XP. This means iTunes, which sits on my C Drive, will obviously be wiped and reinstalled. If I do this, will I lose all the star ratings and other individual settings I have for my mp3s (which are stored on another partition that I won't be wiping)? If so, is there some file in the iTunes directory or somwhere else that I could back up and add to my new iTunes installation so I don't have to individually rate every mp3 I have all over again? posted by Effigy2000 at 3:52 PM PST - 5 comments

Windows 2003 startup scripts. I have a little program, I want to run it on startup, my administration has helped .. a bit. I can't make it work. I've tried everything, any fresh ideas? [more inside]posted by grahamwell at 3:28 PM PST - 10 comments

This looks like a good day for half forgotten book questions. The one I'm looking for featured Michael, a young magician, late teens ~ early twenties, who travels to a far away, famous city of magicians to complete his education. [more inside]posted by Bruce H. at 3:10 PM PST - 2 comments

For Halloween this year, my costume (similar to this one) is a giant, inflatable, flesh-colored penis. Can I get in any trouble with the law for wearing it out in public? And does it make a difference whether that day is Halloween or not? posted by Mach3avelli at 2:23 PM PST - 16 comments

Bolstering self-discipline: I'm stuck in a cycle of knowing that I need to make exercise a regular part of my life. At this point I can only go to the gym right after work during the week. I can also sneak in exercise on weekends. The problem? I cannot seem to maintain any kind of routine for more than 2 or 3 weeks. [more inside]posted by DrGirlfriend at 2:07 PM PST - 24 comments

Does anyone know what's going on with Zenni Optical's website? I found that site from a Metafilter post a while back. I've been trying to access it for a few days now to check on my order and it's borked. posted by ramix at 1:16 PM PST - 3 comments

What is the "man-overboard" or "we just spotted a stick-thin and hairy Tom Hanks on a makeshift raft" scenario for very large and heavy ships, like container ships? It's not practical to stop them and it can't be done in any reasonable amount of time or distance, and I assume they don't keep a helicopter on board. Do they drop a speedboat to go and pick the guy up, which then catches up with the ship? [more inside]posted by George_Spiggott at 12:39 PM PST - 22 comments

Will the Spotlight indexing on my Leopard update never end? It's been on blue barber pole for 12 hours now and it's dragging everything with it. What can I do? [more inside]posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:57 AM PST - 22 comments

Early in the summer, London 2012 released a hybrid animated / live action brand video showcasing their new Wolf/Ollins logo. It has since been scrubbed from the internet - I linked to a YouTube posting of the video that has been taken down (along with an excellent Save The Rave remix), and they've done a crack job of flushing it from the internet entirely. Apparently, there were health concerns. Help me find a copy of the original I loved so much! posted by migurski at 11:53 AM PST - 3 comments

How do I stop repeated door-to-door solicitation, inside a NYC apartment building? It wakes me up (I have to sleep during day shift) and it's really frustrating. [more inside]posted by lorimer at 11:43 AM PST - 44 comments

I'm using a Macbook with Tiger (10.4.10) installed and Missing Sync 5.1.2 (140) installed. When I sync my Treo 650 to iCal, my events in both places (Mac/Palm) show up in the wrong time zones, so the times are wrong. I've never been to exotic places like Havana, Montreal, or Indianapolis, so this won't work for me. [more inside]posted by 4ster at 11:23 AM PST - 0 comments

Can anyone remember the name of a book from my childhood? Kid lit from the late 60’s/early 70’s. Book is about the Holocaust, I think. Bought the book from the Scholastic Book Club (they don’t have lists from back then). The book has a red cover with a picture of a girl with dark brown hair. Part of the story takes place on a train going to Siberia(?). Hope you can help me find this book! posted by D Dear at 11:20 AM PST - 12 comments

MacGyver Filter. I'm hungry, sitting in my new apartment with very few kitchen implements. I have: bread, egg beaters, cinnamon, pepper, maple syrup, a fork, a salad bowl, and a toaster oven with a cookie sheet type rack. Can I make French toast? posted by media_itoku at 10:55 AM PST - 17 comments

We're expecting our second child in the next couple of weeks, and I (foolishly) stored the co-sleeper/bassinet that we used with our first in the basement for the last two years. Now it smells musty. I need as benign a solution to the odor as possible. I don't want to put a newborn in a musty bassinet to sleep, but I also don't want to use harsh chemicals on something where she'll spend several hours a night (fingers crossed). What will work best? Will one of those passive odor absorbers like an air sponge, or that German metal thingie be sufficient, or do I need to use something that I actually apply to the surface fabric? posted by SobaFett at 10:12 AM PST - 16 comments

I'm looking for insults from around the world, in their native tongue, English translation and phonetics. Not truly offensive, but more like the Shakespearian "I bite my at thou." The stranger/smarter/culturally varied, the better. [more inside]posted by Davidissimo at 9:43 AM PST - 30 comments

Landlord took 60 days to return security deposit (the max is 45 days), there has been no interest added to it, and she's taken a healthy chunk of money out for "repairs." This is in Chicago. Should I take her to court? [more inside]posted by buriednexttoyou at 6:54 AM PST - 22 comments

Mac Leopard upgrade trouble: So I took your advice and got an IMac and I'm happy as a pig in shit. I even got a Leopard upgrade disc for $10 for buying at the wrong/right time. I put the disc in, click what I have to do, it closes and restarts and then... [more inside]posted by jennydiski at 5:21 AM PST - 14 comments

What causes people, like myself and my wife, to become moody, impatient, and cranky? As much as I would like to be chipper and happy throughout the day, sometimes I am just cranky. Other times, I am in a great mood and have time for everyone. For whatever reason, I occasionally wake up on the wrong side of the bed ( With what seems like enough sleep ), and need to stay away from people. Or during the day, I am ready to attack my co-workers for no reason. Is this some type of chemical or nutritional imbalance? Am I dehydrated? Is my body just on the down swing of its adrenal cycle? Am I just a temperamental a$$hole? What can I do to remove the crankiness and be one of those annoying 'happy all the time' people? Help me find my balance. posted by kaizen at 4:47 AM PST - 24 comments

The two of us are in Tokyo through November 8, being tourists. Are there any social opportunities for hanging out with other English-speakers (e.g. cheap organized tours, group outings for karaoke, etc.)? [more inside]posted by cadge at 4:35 AM PST - 4 comments

I am looking for more information on ‘Paper Batteries’ in relationship to RFID. I have found plenty of information on RFID, but the term ‘Paper Battery’ does not seem to produce many fruitful results. The information I am looking for would be in relationship to the technology, production practices, workflow, or process management practices in the field of Graphic Information Technology. [more inside]posted by B(oYo)BIES at 4:21 AM PST - 6 comments

I would like to collect examples of Ebay transactions in which the seller left critical information out of the description of an item. I am mainly interested in cases where what was left out is something one would not normally think to question. For example, you buy 300 Pokemon cards and the seller neglects to say that they are in 4 different languages. Buying on the US Ebay from a US buyer you wouldn't normally wonder if they were all in English. Basically, deception by omission.
I know this must happen a lot; anyone have succinct examples? thanks. posted by cogneuro at 4:18 AM PST - 18 comments

TowletteFilter: Is there a specific name for the paper/cloth used in towelettes, and where can I get a few hundred for homemade sunscreen/bug-repellant wipes? posted by jytsai at 3:23 AM PST - 4 comments

I saw a highlight of a pro football game this past Sunday (Oct. 28th) that featured a muffed punt. The kicker made a really awkward attempt to recover the ball, but the other team got it and scored a touchdown. I don't know which teams played in this game, the channel that showed the clip, or where it originally aired. Anybody know which game this was, or even better knows of a video link to the play in question? [more inside]posted by aerotive at 2:30 AM PST - 5 comments

Can you identify this painting (164KB, flickr) for a friend? She's had it as wallpaper for awhile but doesn't know where she got it from. It looks Picasso-esque to me but I don't think it is him, not that I've got a great knowledge of his work. posted by 6550 at 8:51 PM PST - 27 comments

I am trying to design a banner for a public library web site. I find that all the banners I design are too retro-looking. Kind of 1950s, Alvin Lustig or Saul Bass inspired. Cute, but they don't seem to represent a forward-thinking, technology-oriented library. I am looking for examples of banners that might inspire me, and I am hoping you all might have some suggestions. Also, any elements you think I should try to include or try to avoid. This banner will be seen by tens of thousands of people, and will be the "face" of the library online. Links to examples of what you think works and why it works would be much appreciated. I had no idea that I would have such a hard time with this; I just don't seem to get 2007 design! Thanks. posted by foxinthesnow at 8:24 PM PST - 8 comments

I recently purchased an HDTV (Vizio VX37L 37" LCD; 768p) and an Xbox 360 (Elite); am I getting the image quality I should be getting? Specifically, there seems to be far less antialiasing going on than I'd expect; "jaggies" are obvious from across the room. The 360 is connected to the TV via HDMI, and the 360 is outputting 720p. [more inside]posted by korpios at 7:55 PM PST - 17 comments

I'm looking for a book for my book club to read (novel, nonfiction) that takes place during the holidays or has a holiday theme. I've thought of Holidays on Ice, A Christmas Carol (they seem obvious) but am stumped on others. The book doesn't have to totally revolve around the holidays, though. Any suggestions? posted by printchick at 6:47 PM PST - 21 comments

Amongst my many other web properties, I run a small blog with pictures of pretty naked people, and I'm looking to ad some nonintrusive banners to the design. Does anyone have any experience with the various providers of such services? Which are reputable, which are not?
For context, I would use google adsense if they didn't have an issue with NSFW sites. Not looking for obnoxious popunderjavascript crapola, as this is not my main source of revenue. posted by anonymous at 6:37 PM PST - 2 comments

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran is only seeking "peaceful nuclear activities"; Presidential Candidates contend Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. Which is right? I can't trust sources from my own country (U.S.) What does a more objective (is there such a thing?) view say? posted by pelican at 6:23 PM PST - 28 comments

Maybe you can help me figure out my incredibly interesting gmail IMAP vs Pine problem. According to gmail, the only non-label folder you want to really map to a special IMAP folder is the Drafts folder. If you are still with me ... [more inside]posted by 31d1 at 5:31 PM PST - 3 comments

Who's the Carver of today? That is, who do the kids in contemporary writing workshops emulate? Supposedly, in the 50's into the 60's it was Hemingway. From the 60's and 70's it was Donald Barthelme. The 80's and 90's was the reign of Carver. Has anyone taken over? [more inside]posted by Kattullus at 2:34 PM PST - 23 comments

5-disk console CD player has eaten my disks and won't spit 'em out. How can I retrieve them, and can the machine be made to work as a manually opened/closed unit? [more inside]posted by Scram at 2:28 PM PST - 5 comments

I'm currently completing a B.A. in Psychology with the intentions of becoming a practicing therapist (mental heath, family, individual, children). Here's my question: the path to practice as a therapist diverges. I can get a Masters of Social Work in two years following my undergrad, but in order to be able to practice, I would need to get my license, which would require typically another 2 years of supervision. I could work, by at a low salary. The other path would be to following up the Undergraduate degree with a Masters in Psy and then a Ph.D. Any thoughts? posted by bydar at 1:33 PM PST - 8 comments

My singing group sells CDs online using paypal (accepting credit cards) on our website. We also sell CDs at shows where we perform, and so far have been accepting only cash and check. We would like to accept credit cards in hopes of getting even more sales.
I'm having trouble finding/understanding the information on the paypal website. Basically, can we get peoples' credit card info (the chick chunk slider?) and manually enter the credit card info into paypal at a later time? (I don't mind doing this manually, it's 50 transactions at the most.)
We are straying away from the automatic machines because 1) we won't always have access to power and phone lines 2)we don't want to sign up with another merchant account.
Thanks for the help! posted by cp7 at 1:29 PM PST - 15 comments

My husband and I are 29 and we have approx $750k worth of equity tied up in real estate, but we're not sure how we should plan for the future. [more inside]posted by kyam58 at 12:52 PM PST - 17 comments

What should I do for my technology-related Master's final project?
-How can I better brainstorm my own ideas?
-Do you have a dream app you want me to implement?
-Are there areas or problems that you feel are underserved by technology?
I have a few ideas that I'm kinda excited about, but none that's pure gold. My program is pretty technical, but has close ties with econ, sociology, law, et others. Pretty loose requirements. Hive minds are of interest to me, so I thought this would be a cool place to hear people's suggestions. [more inside]posted by k7lim at 11:32 AM PST - 3 comments

How much does the spine of a book cover affect sales? My partner has just had a book published, but the publishers put an earlier draft cover design on by mistake. The main difference is on the spine, where the title is slightly wrong and the text placement is different making the title unreadable by anyone browsing the shelves. [more inside]posted by quarsan at 11:06 AM PST - 31 comments

Whenever I think of a person out of the past (I'm 67, and have an excellent recall of schoolmates and even casual acquaintances from the distant past) a mental thumbnail photograph of that person always pops into my thoughts. Accurate in every way. I find almost no names in memory without full face photographs, probably thousands of them. My question, is this a rare ability or is it common? posted by fkeese at 11:05 AM PST - 9 comments

I need to change the name of a font that is embedded in the font itself. Any suggestions for free or cheap, basic font editing software? I don't need something over the top like Fontographer, just something with the ability to change the name. posted by frijole at 10:58 AM PST - 3 comments

I would like to learn about Sikhism. Recommend a good introductory text on the history and tenets of the faith please. Also, what's the best English translation of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib? posted by Lentrohamsanin at 10:56 AM PST - 3 comments

I was using a combined domain and hosting deal, but the company went under and the domain was registered in their name, how do I get it back? [more inside]posted by stackhaus23 at 10:53 AM PST - 6 comments

Roadtrip to the regional kickball championships in milwuakee, need to make a mix cd of course! I need some songs about kicking or even just some good classic pump up songs [more inside]posted by BSummers at 10:15 AM PST - 21 comments

Looking to propose while in Palm Springs this Thanksgiving. Any good romantic restaurants or locations that can be recommended?... We'll be spending the night at Sea Mountain Inn and I want to make this as special as possible...all ideas welcome...thanks posted by matthelm at 10:08 AM PST - 9 comments

I want to create an online forum to discuss literally all topics. I'll be recruiting well-rounded people who can discuss lots of different sorts of issues in depth. The problem is: what software to use? [more inside]posted by jimmyjimjim at 8:04 AM PST - 14 comments

What's a good word for 'a spatially or geographically incongruous person/event/object', as an analogue to anachronism, which is 'temporally incongruous'? (New words okay) [more inside]posted by onalark at 7:05 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm looking for sources of weather data (current conditions, forecasts) that are in text formats so that I can turn them into a Twitter weather bot. What I have in mind is either existing ASCII products (METAR, AVN MOS) or derivatives of image products that (e.g. a compact text encoding of a radar map through some kind of image analysis). Ideas welcomed. [more inside]posted by edwardvielmetti at 5:59 AM PST - 5 comments

How do I deal with and best help a good friend of mine who is having very serious mental health problems? Oh, and we live on opposite coasts. [more inside]posted by hazyspring at 5:46 AM PST - 15 comments

Bicycle was locked outside (it's against the rules to bring it inside the apartment where I live). It rained, and the bicycle wasn't used for some time, and now the lock won't budge (it rusted, I think): key goes in, but doesn't turn.
I tried WD-40 but it didn't work. Before I cut through the lock, are there any other solutions I could try? posted by sailoreagle at 4:50 AM PST - 21 comments

October 29

Where can I find the a photo of the Delorean from Back to the Future streaking off leaving a trail of flames behind it (and preferably with Dr. Emmett Brown standing behind looking dumbfounded)? [more inside]posted by PWA_BadBoy at 11:55 PM PST - 11 comments

HalloweenCostumeFilter: My band has a gig on Halloween in the East Village of NYC. Can you help me complete my costume? I can't use my hands, because of the instrument I play. I usually wear a black suit, bowtie, and bowler hat, and I am looking for minimal detail that can be added to make a quickly and commonly identified costume.
Last year I wore some terminator makeup on my head and that was enough. Any recommendations? posted by billtron at 10:00 PM PST - 19 comments

So I love my blackberry pearl 8100 but I've had it with all of RIM's bluetooth crippling and limitations. I want a phone the exact same size with a great keyboard that does email, bluetooth and works with T-Mobile. Ring it up MeFites. [more inside]posted by rileyray3000 at 8:13 PM PST - 14 comments

Why have I recently developed an aversion to having my neck and shoulders touched?
It feels like it's going to hurt a lot when any of my family goes to even touch my shoulders or neck, even though it doesn't actually hurt at all. There is no actual different sensation than you'd normally expect, but I can no longer bear to be touched on my shoulders or neck without exerting a great deal of willpower.
I can't help wincing as they go to touch my neck and shoulders, despite my own wishes. It's a bit easier, but not much easier, once the touching has actually started.
This upsets my family, and me too, since we're a loving family.
Even though the sensations are normal skin sensations, the only way to describe what I feel in my neck and shoulders when touched is "pain that isn't painful". posted by anonymous at 7:49 PM PST - 13 comments

Does any store in Toronto stock Kate Spade eyeglass frames? I'm looking for this, or this, if possible, but I'd like the chance to browse for anything similar. posted by maudlin at 7:29 PM PST - 5 comments

I am dressing up as a sexy sheriff to role play with my husband and I would like to get suggestions on what naughty things to say as a sheriff or something a sheriff would say to someone he pulled over for speeding? posted by turkishLola at 6:54 PM PST - 26 comments

SurrealTelevisionAdFilter: Did my friend really see an ad in which a family reacts in abject terror when the cartoon sun character on the juice bottle comes to life at their breakfast table? [more inside]posted by night kitchen at 5:19 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a carry-on bag (one that really follows U.S. airline compliance with max 22x14x9 dimensions) that not only has a built-in garment bag but can hold maybe a ream of paper along with usual toiletries and light clothes for a weekend business trip. This will be a gift. [more inside]posted by Ky at 3:42 PM PST - 9 comments

Is there a method that exists for defining corner radius on a drawn box in Illustrator which scales proportionality based on a logarithmic scale that is directly related to the size of the box. [more inside]posted by tmgstudio at 2:58 PM PST - 4 comments

I have a jpg file. What is the best way to find any instances of this file posted anywhere on the web. This is pretty much a dupe of this AskMe from 2004 but i was hoping technology might have advanced enough to provide a new answer. [more inside]posted by mrgoldenbrown at 2:58 PM PST - 12 comments

Cousin and spouse in NYC, we're in Toronto. We'd like to meet halfway to go snowboarding in January. I only know the Quebec ski hills so any suggestions would be much appreciated. Hotels, condos and cottages are all equally acceptable. posted by Umhlangan at 1:18 PM PST - 5 comments

I remember reading a blog post recently (probably 2 weeks ago, a month at the most) where the author said allowing torture is a bad idea because most people are personally opposed to torturing and would be unwilling to participate, so the only people willing to do the torturing are sadists who get pleasure out of torturing people. Therefore, you get a lot of punitive sadistic torture of little actual strategic value. Anyone remember reading this recently? [more inside]posted by davidstandaford at 11:54 AM PST - 12 comments

My friend mentioned a free table-top RPG that was available as a pdf on the web. All the players were gods, and with a point system, would create a fantasy world together. There would be a series of turns, symbolizing epochs or ages of the world. I don't know the name or the authors. Anyone hear of it? posted by Snyder at 11:35 AM PST - 10 comments

Just saw Eastern Promises. Kirill was sporting an interesting looking watch. It often happens that some item of clothing, a watch, a doily, or slipcover catches my eye in a movie, and then I spend way too long trying to track it down online. What websites do y'all rely on to answer these and other harrowing questions more expeditiously? Many thanks in advance. posted by subajestad at 11:28 AM PST - 9 comments

When using an external hard-drive with a Mac, is a speed advantage gained by using a drive formatted with HFS+ (over FAT32/etc.)? And while I'm asking... [more inside]posted by wavejumper at 11:13 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm trying to research the origin of the term "touchpoint" as it's used in this 2003 McKinsey quote:
"Brands are delivered at touchpoints, which for a hotel include reservations, check-in and checkout, frequent-stay programs, room service, business services, exercise facilities, laundry service, restaurants, and bars."
Today this term is widely used in the industry to describe the ways in which a customer comes into contact with a business, but I can't pin down exactly who coined it or how early it came to be used in this way... [more inside]posted by Jeff Howard at 10:56 AM PST - 4 comments

How to wipe a dead hard drive? After backing up my data to a recently purchased external drive, it promptly failed (and produced a horrible, burning electronics odor). As I'm still within the 14 day return policy, I shouldn't have any trouble returning it. However: I want to wipe all of my personal data from the drive first. How to do that with a drive that won't mount? [more inside]posted by aladfar at 10:28 AM PST - 16 comments

MS Excel Problem: CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP?
I am a very average PC user having unable to open spreadsheets. I borrowed a copy of MS Office Professional from a friend, but it did not install Excel properly. I no longer have access to those installation CDs. Whenever I try to open a spreadsheet, it prompts me for the CD's. So I bought Excel 97, installed it fine, but still when I try o open a spreadsheet it automatically tries to open it with the XP Professional version... How so I get around this to just use the Excel 97 version now on my computer?? posted by writingjulie at 9:04 AM PST - 9 comments

I used straight, undiluted Grapefruit Seed Extract under my tongue and now I have sublingual inflammation and a burning sensation on the tip of my tongue like I've sipped tea that is too hot. [more inside]posted by pranalaxmi at 9:04 AM PST - 10 comments

In the UK, what percentage of material that you're supposed to put in the orange recycling bags actually ends up getting recycled? I've read stories that one of the reasons for separating out tins/certain plastics/paper is because regulations about exporting these to other countries for dumping are more lax. I've not been able to find any hard numbers, are there any statistics (probably per-material) available? [more inside]posted by fvw at 8:34 AM PST - 8 comments

Why can't I access www.fireflyfans.net from my home PC? I just get a 'Internet Explorer (7) cannot display the webpage'. I can get it at work, so I know it's still there, just not at home. I'm on Virgin (ex-NTL) cable (going through a router), and I can get everywhere except this one site. And I *love* Firefly, dammit! posted by timpollard at 7:35 AM PST - 4 comments

What's the best way to transfer files from a Tiger MacBook to a Leopard MacBook Pro?
I'm looking for easy, straightforward with minimal or no need to buy a peripheral (like a backup drive) or extra software I don't need for other than this project. I'm just looking for file transfer advice, not cloning or transferring software.
I've found this advice online, but don't know how current or useful it is. I've also read about Migration Assistant but don't know if it's my best option or not...and what type of cable would I need?
Thanks in advance for your help! posted by tamjl at 7:26 AM PST - 11 comments

Is there a way I can only use the user dictionary in MS Word, without using the built-in dictionary? In other words, let's say I have three words in a user dictionary: "cat", "mouse", and "fish". I want MS Word to underline every word that I type, other than "cat", "mouse", or "fish". Solutions involving other software or scripts are welcome, as long as they are free and aren't too complicated. posted by strangeguitars at 2:45 AM PST - 9 comments

My inner stupidity surfaced and I got a "Minor In Possession" this weekend in Santa Barbara, CA. I just realized this is a misdemeanor. This is causing me considerable distress, and I have some questions. [more inside]posted by Defenestrator at 1:07 AM PST - 21 comments

So I want to be battered with noise and I could use some recommendations. I have Metal Machine Music and like it, but would be all for something more...melodic? I'm pretty sure I need some John Zorn and Mike Patton in the collection, but which albums? [more inside]posted by StopMakingSense at 12:56 AM PST - 28 comments

My employer does not provide vision insurance -and I wear glasses for nearsightedness. The way I see it, I have three options - 1) Use the Lenscrafters coupons in the Sunday paper, 2) Use my AAA member card for a discount at Lenscrafters, 3) Use the measly 20% vision discount I have available as a member of BlueShield, or 4) Sign up for independent vision coverage through a plan like VSP. Is anyone else in a similar boat? What do you use? What do you recommend and advise against using? posted by invisible ink at 8:53 PM PST - 22 comments

How do I get started with cyclocross? I've been a spectator at a cyclocross race and I'm looking at picking up a low-end cyclocross bike, but what's the best way to get started doing it? How do you practice the odd obstacles and challenges found in courses? [more inside]posted by mathowie at 2:13 PM PST - 15 comments

Moving to London from Northern California in early January. I have a fairly substantial (100+ bottles) wine collection that I'd really like to take with me. Is there any way to do this without getting screwed on customs duty? posted by cubedweller at 1:49 PM PST - 10 comments

Two questions about Christmas in Paris, France. First, will the Metro and - crucially - the RER line be open on Christmas Day? Secondly, can anyone suggest great things to do that will definitely be open in Paris on Christmas Eve? posted by skylar at 12:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Cursing bad luck: One of the preamp tubes in my Peavey Classic 30 seemed to peter out during practice yesterday. Two hours before my first concert of the year. An awesome friend came in in the clutch, but now I'm puzzled as to what to do. (and have another show on Thursday) [more inside]posted by tmcw at 12:15 PM PST - 13 comments

Can St. Louis hold a candle to Chicago? I love Chicago. Half my family is from there, I went to school there; it's one of the few places in the world I've been to that felt like 'home' in my heart. I don't currently live there--I moved away for a job after school--but am trying to get back. [more inside]posted by jkl345 at 12:09 PM PST - 31 comments

I need some ideas to build 5 outdoor steps leading up to a door. Must be steps that can be built in the most quickest, cheapest and easiest of ways. I'm open to any unconventional plans - and of course would appreciate photos of the ideas. Right now I have at my disposal cement mix and tons of building rubble made from concrete. Wondering if the rubble can be recycled to build with. Any ideas - much appreciated! posted by watercarrier at 9:26 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm trying to write a paper on [blank]'s Effects on Society. I'm trying to find a paper to mirror with the similar skeleton, are there any "must read" papers that have similar scope? [more inside]posted by erd0c at 8:43 AM PST - 5 comments

Our gas dryer stopped working. When the "Start" button is pressed the machine hums, but won't tumble. Reading this leads me to believe the problem is with the motor. Any idea what a fair price is to get such a problem serviced is? We're trying to evaluate the relative value in having this repaired (the preferred option) vs. possibly buying a new (or used) unit. I've never dealt with this type of repair before and want to avoid getting ripped off, of course. posted by The Gooch at 7:36 AM PST - 11 comments

I'm looking for a digital compass + travel clock device for my oversea trip next year. Do you guys have any recommendation? Ideally, it should be small and has good battery life (and not outrageously priced :). posted by parttimeninja at 7:06 AM PST - 1 comment

A woman i met off a dating site once told me I didnt have much ego. Looking on the internet I found something called "lack of ego mastery" in relation to "understanding psychological assessment" [more inside]posted by browolf at 6:56 AM PST - 24 comments

Calling all Van Morrison fanatics. I'm trying to identify a sample of music used at the end song "A town called Paradise" on the album "No guru, no method, no teacher". I can't upload the music here (don't know how) but the sample appears 5 minutes and 18 seconds into the song. It's driving me mad cos I heard the piece before, many years ago and I can't place it. [more inside]posted by dooabledawg at 5:14 AM PST - 3 comments

Is there a way I can block a particular site in my browser such that I cannot visit it for a certain amount of time (e.g. three weeks). Also, is there a way I can block the port that connects to aim so I can suspend that service for a certain amount of time? I am using a Mac and the Firefox web browser. [more inside]posted by jne1813 at 4:51 AM PST - 6 comments

October 27

What phones should I (& others) consider for ease and flexibility of taking pictures, videos, voice notes, long audio recordings, texts, etc and uploading them over the network or sending them to my computer over bluetooth? Easy is the key word! Simple GUIs. Few button presses. My budget is $1-200 and I'm ready for a new contract. posted by oneous at 10:25 PM PST - 10 comments

Emergency camera question: I'm staying at an astronomical observatory all night tonight and want to take some pictures of some really dark subjects. I borrowed a Canon Digital Rebel XTi from my school but don't have the manual... [more inside]posted by Gankmore at 7:49 PM PST - 7 comments

What do I do if a web site I maintain has been hacked? I've inherited maintenance of a web site, but I am mostly a front-end person, design and front end coding, so I am completely out of my depth here. Someone is using a user's identity to post hundreds of spam posts on the message board... really disgusting ones. The user has changed her password multiple times so I'm guessing they have another in. When I look at the database since they are both posting often (the real user and the spammers) I can't tell what IP address the spammers are posting from to block it. After that I'm lost... any suggestions? posted by semidivine at 7:18 PM PST - 14 comments

Daisuke filter - Not having watched the Boston Red Sox much, I am entertained by Dice-K's "shimmy shimmy shake". But he doesn't do it all the time. My best guess is that he only does it without runners on base. Is there some other pattern I am not seeing? posted by megatherium at 6:57 PM PST - 3 comments

New Years in Chicago- I'm looking for a swanky lounge to spend New Years in the city. Google/CitySearch/Flavorpill have failed me so far. There's... [more inside]posted by Kevin A at 5:31 PM PST - 5 comments

I am applying to the London School of Economics (Econ-Msc:2 years) program this year. Unfortunately, I only have a 3.2/4 GPA. Hence, I was hoping if I could receive suggestions as to how I can maximize my chances of getting into the program ... [more inside]posted by Batman2743 at 5:19 PM PST - 16 comments

I'm already following Chuck and The Big Bang Theory (via paid XBOX Live downloads to avoid commercials), and I'm looking to add another new series as well. I've been thinking about starting with Moonlight, but the unoriginality of the basic premise (Forever Knight and Angel both did it first) is rather offputting, especially since I still haven't quite gotten over the cancellation of Angel. Is the series worth watching on its own merits, or should I give it a pass? [more inside]posted by The Confessor at 5:15 PM PST - 27 comments

I've heard a song a few times now on Goldfinger's Dancehall show on Radio 1, but he hasn't mentioned a title and I can't find it in the tracklisting on the Radio 1 website. [more inside]posted by fire&wings at 5:15 PM PST - 2 comments

Looking for your personal stories & anecdotes relating to loss of a great fortune. Have you ever lost a lot of money? How did it happen & how did it impact you then and later? How did you manage to get out of the shock & survive right after? How did you succeed in rebuilding your wealth [more inside]posted by growabrain at 4:02 PM PST - 15 comments

Is there a way to excuse oneself from family obligations during the holidays? A way that would minimize gossip and guilt-trips? Any successes out there? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:46 PM PST - 22 comments

What's the best way to create a survey for offline use? I want people to fill out a survey to collect suggestions/requirements for a web site redesign. It's at an event in which there is no Internet access, so I thought there may be a way to bring a laptop and store the results (and create reports) locally. [more inside]posted by adverb at 1:58 PM PST - 1 comment

Has there been a work of literature in which a female werewolf becomes pregnant? Stay with me here. If a female werewolf was pregnant, what would happen to the fetus when she turns? One night a month would it turn into a wolf fetus? and what about the difference of length in gestation between a human and a wolf? posted by menace303 at 11:28 AM PST - 14 comments

My wife and I (Well traveled Americans both in our mid thirties) quit our jobs in the summer and have been traveling for the last 3 months on the first leg of a year long around the world (or as much of it as we could fit in) trip. So far everything has been great. We have seen incredible things and are having an overall wonderful time, but recently we have been feeling that something is missing. [more inside]posted by funkyavocado at 10:44 AM PST - 24 comments

Can anyone tell me where this picture was taken?
http://www.widelec.org/stuff/widoki/widoki_26.jpg
And, for extra credit: is there any better way to find the answer to this sort of question? [more inside]posted by CrunchyGods at 10:41 AM PST - 9 comments

Can someone with a canon powershot SD400 walk me through the steps I need to take to delete all the pictures on my SD card?
Bonus Question: Is there something I can do to reset the camera to it's default settings? [more inside]posted by andoatnp at 10:39 AM PST - 7 comments

How can I get a Couche-Tard t-shirt? Couche-Tard ("goes to bed late" or "night owl" in French) is a Canadian convenience store with a great logo. As a night owl myself, and the sort of person that would love having something that said "Couche-Tard" on it, how can I make this happen? eBay's never produced any good results...do I have to swipe some stationary, scan it, and get a custom-printed shirt? posted by paul_smatatoes at 10:23 AM PST - 9 comments

So I'm going on a trip this summer with my bf... my plan is to at least hit up Germany and Ireland, hopefully England too. I'm planning on this trip lasting for about a month, probably starting in August sometime. So my simple question is, what do you recommend? My more in-depth question is behind the link... [more inside]posted by pontouf at 10:17 AM PST - 6 comments

Let's say I have a small group of people -- 10 and under -- and I want to provide a stable, private chat room that participants can enter and exit at will. Let's further say that I would want whatever software that provides this to account for different technical skills (no command-prompts) and when everyone leaves the room it isn't taken down needing to be recreated again in the future? Proprietary software is fine. For Profit software is fine. (Free is better!! ;-) posted by tcv at 8:07 AM PST - 12 comments

The tripod-mount threading on the bottom of my camera (a Fujifilm FinePix S5100) is stripped. When I try to bolt it to the tripod it wobbles its way off. Is there any way I can fix this myself? [more inside]posted by cmyk at 6:58 AM PST - 6 comments

When I was a kid, I took a trip once. The whole time, a plush Hello Kitty doll was in the back of the car, bombarded by the sun. It changed color from pink to dark blue. Any explanation for this phenomenon? [more inside]posted by reenum at 5:39 AM PST - 14 comments

When watching Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose" (PBS, 1980), I was (pleasantly) surprised at the high number of black experts (and women) who were guests in the show. Not the usually array of exclusively old, white guys one would have expected. [more inside]posted by The Toad at 4:35 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for some fairly high-quality geographical maps of the whole planet (preferably contained in a single map, instead of being spread over several), but without any details on it whatsoever to do with places or names, not even names of mountains or rivers - no country/state borders drawn in either - the only detail should be things like the geography (high/low land, desert, mountains, forest, etc)
Thanks in advance! posted by heylight at 3:50 AM PST - 6 comments

PuzzleFilter: I flew Southwest earlier this month and they had this really fun puzzle in their in-flight magazine. Anyone know where I can find more of these online? posted by rezaman at 7:53 PM PST - 11 comments

We are having a party tomorrow and our 10 month old puppy barks incessantly when we have one person visit, let alone 10.
Any ideas on how we can quiet him without tranquillizers or locking him in the bedroom (can't do as we live in a condo and don't want to disturb the neighbors.)
We have a "clicker" when he blithely ignores and its too late for obedience training. I need a quick fix!
Thanks very much! posted by Tullyogallaghan at 6:26 PM PST - 20 comments

Please reccomend a tattoo artist in either the Augusta, GA or Charlotte/Gastonia NC area who has experience working with white ink in pieces. [more inside]posted by Glitter Ninja at 5:28 PM PST - 2 comments

Every dog I've ever known does that "putting their chin down on your knee/the nearest flat surface" thing when they decide they MUST have the tasty treat you're eating. It's ridiculously cute but ... where did it originate? No googling on wolfish or doggie traits I've done has mentioned it but I want to know more about it! [more inside]posted by zeph at 4:38 PM PST - 23 comments

Another APA formatting question. I'm working on a little team paper that includes about two pages of information, mostly from the course textbook, with the exception of like two paragraphs. I'd really hate to invade the text with unnecesary references to the same author/book over and over again. In order to avoid this, would it be ok (or completely wrong) to make some sort of note for this in the introduction to this part of the paper, sort of like this: [more inside]posted by CrazyLemonade at 3:12 PM PST - 18 comments

I'm having a Halloween party tomorrow, and I was looking for some good music videos to have playing on the T.V., Here's a decent list from Yahoo (of all places), but I was hoping for a few more good choices. Youtube links highly appreciated! posted by KirTakat at 3:05 PM PST - 10 comments

Betrayal - I've betrayed my girlfriend, yet we are still together, trying to heal, and work through the mess I created. Should we even bother? Is this relationship salvageable? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 2:40 PM PST - 42 comments

Every once in a while (time between failures ranges from 1 hour to a few days), Firefox on my laptop suddenly and permanently (until reboot) loses its ability to do DNS lookups. Every page comes up with "Firefox can't find the server at www.foo.com." Other apps (and computers on the network) continue to work fine. It seems random; I haven't been able to correlate it with anything else on the machine. Closing and restarting Firefox doesn't restore its DNS lookup ability, but rebooting does. Googling only turned up the advice to disable IPv6, which didn't help. I'm currently running Firefox 2.0.0.8 on a Dell Inspiron 8600 running XP Home, but it's been an issue since at least 1.5. My only extension is Better Gmail, and I've tried disabling all extensions in the past. I'm at my wit's end - do any geniuses here have a clue? posted by dfan at 1:32 PM PST - 13 comments

What do you recommend a gringo see in Managua, Nicaragua? I need to attend a meeting there in January, and have left one day free for whatever sightseeing might be of interest. I speak no Spanish; but my interests run to art, nature and history. posted by beagle at 1:02 PM PST - 7 comments

New imac on the way. The one it's replacing has been with me since 2000 (330ghz, 18GB hd) so I'm expecting to be a mite overwhelmed with all the stuff I can do now. I'm also overwhelmed by the amount of advice/tips/hacks/other out there. Where's the best information for the layman (that is, not totally ignant but not a developer either) user? posted by mundy at 12:19 PM PST - 11 comments

I’ve found a nice used 2004 Honda Accord EX that I’m interested in which is about 30 miles away in another town. The dealership is only asking $14,995 and both KBB and NADA both list the worth over $18,000. I did a carfax report for the car and it shows a one owner history with no accidents or anything. I also contacted the local Honda dealership (not the selling dealer) and asked them to pull warranty work done to this car via VIN. The only thing that was done was an Automatic transmission that was recalled and replaced under warranty. What am I missing? Why are they selling this car for what seems to me, much less than the worth of it? I have always assumed that car dealerships are there to screw you however they can. Any help would be appreciated posted by tradeer33 at 12:13 PM PST - 16 comments

What computer science departments make their faculty or course evaluation scores available online? Most places I have found require a password to view the scores. I would also be happy with averages or aggregate data, if anyone has a source for that. [more inside]posted by procrastination at 11:45 AM PST - 10 comments

What's your favorite romantic getaway? The lady and I are looking to take a vacation (probably someplace warm) in January on a modest (~$1k/pp hotel and airfare) budget. But where? [more inside]posted by theoddball at 11:43 AM PST - 19 comments

I am in the early stages of planning a trip from England to Australia and am looking at driving from Sydney to Perth via Alice Springs in March/April 2008. I have visited 40 USA States so am no stranger to driving thousands of miles. I normally simply use a hire car but feel that Australia would probably require at least a 4WD. A Motorhome is always a possibility but would rather stay in Motels. I see that between Perth and Uluru there are settlements named Northam, Merredin, Southern Cross, Kalgoorlie, Leonora, Laverton, Warakurna and Kaltukatjara. Anyone know if these settlements have Motels or Hotels? [more inside]posted by Spannerman8 at 11:36 AM PST - 13 comments

My landlord in NY claims that our heater must turn on when the temperature drops. If we wanted to prevent this, a technician would have to "turn the valves off" -- a cumbersome process that risks the valves later freezing and "popping" and steam destroying our apartment. True? Is this common? And if so, how can we deal with a too-hot room, other than by opening the window? posted by shivohum at 10:45 AM PST - 30 comments

BigBrothersBigSitersFilter: I recently signed up and got approved to be a big brother for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. I just got assigned my little who is 12 yrs old, although i havent met him yet. My question is who else has been affiliated with this program and what experience can you share and what you may have gotten out of it(positive/Negative). Im excited about it and i just wanted to see what other people thought about it. posted by flipmiester99 at 10:25 AM PST - 13 comments

I have an art quality photographic print with a crease through the image (*$#% USPS). Short of seeking professional help, is there any way tried and true way to get it out? I'm very wary of destroying the image, so I'm not going at it with an iron. And strategic matting won't fix the problem. Surely there's something I haven't thought of? posted by B-squared at 9:10 AM PST - 11 comments

In order to deal with the mounting mess of identity theft fraud I find myself in, I need to get a bunch of stuff "notarized". What is that, does it cost money and if so how can I get it done as cheaply as possible? NYC, Upper East Side. Please help an iggerant foreigner. posted by nowonmai at 7:39 AM PST - 15 comments

Wikipedia says that petrichor is " the name of the yellow organic oil that causes the familiar scent of rain on dry earth". The article also mentions that perfumes have been produced from it. Which perfumes? Are there synthetic perfumes that come close? Failing that I'm looking for an interesting men's cologne with strong bergamont notes. posted by rdr at 7:37 AM PST - 10 comments

I have an mp3 I'd like to use as a ring tone, but it's 2 seconds too long. I don't want to cut off the beginning or end, but is there some other way to shorten it to 30 seconds? What software (OS X please) can do this?
I realize some options might make it sound slightly off, but it's a ring tone so I shouldn't be too bothered by it. posted by howling fantods at 7:30 AM PST - 12 comments

My girlfriend has Asperger's syndrome, and while I have no official diagnosis, I am a bit of a geek. We would like to have children at some point in the future. Will our children be at risk of more-serious autistic spectrum disorders because of our own less-serious "conditions"? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:13 AM PST - 27 comments

I've got two great job offers on the table, but unfortunately, I can't figure out which I should take. One is with an amazing organization, but doing more J2EE work; the other is sexy Adobe Flex work, but Contract. Help me choose!!! [more inside]posted by SanctiCrucis05 at 6:45 AM PST - 12 comments

Help me be a more carefree person on a roadtrip, with someone who is having post-breakup depression, and who has always had terrible taste in music. [more inside]posted by cobaltnine at 5:08 AM PST - 15 comments

International Shipping-Filter: Greetings Amerifriend-less hivelings. How do you get your 'US addresses only' goods out of the Lower 48?
Specifically, has anyone used Access USA? [more inside]posted by Kreiger at 4:57 AM PST - 3 comments

Several years ago I listened to a radio show which mentioned that there was this chemist who invented a perfume that had the smell of earth after rain. I need to find out this guy's name. [more inside]posted by Karcy at 3:58 AM PST - 11 comments

I read a very strange book when I was young. The main character's name was Tristram, and it was very trippy. He turned into a tree, and there was weird, bondage type stuff going on with his girlfriend going at his penis with a pair of nail scissors. Do you have any idea what book this was? I'm guessing it would have been published in the late 60's/early 70's. [more inside]posted by h00py at 3:39 AM PST - 15 comments

I run a website that would be perfect for horror movie advertisements, how do I find the ad agency/company responsible for fulfilling the quota of online ads? [more inside]posted by matimer at 1:33 AM PST - 4 comments

October 25

What can I give or do for my coworker, whose parents' house (his childhood home) just burned down in the wildfires in southern California? Is there something they could use? posted by holympus at 10:54 PM PST - 10 comments

What does Orbitz mean by "business traveler"? I booked a room at a Best Western in RI through Orbitz and my emailed confirmation says "Rate description: BUSINESS TRAVELERS ONLY." I'm not actually traveling on business, but I'm only staying there one night, and I'm wondering: how will they know? posted by tractorfeed at 8:25 PM PST - 5 comments

Taking a little vacation in Mexico City ... what am I allowed to bring into Mexico? The information that I'm finding online is either contradictory or stale. Obviously, I'd like to avoid any situation where I'll be fined or imprisoned. [more inside]posted by kindachris at 8:19 PM PST - 5 comments

What happens if an insurance adjustor gives you an estimate that's twice as large as the original body shop estimate you got before the adjustor saw the damage? [more inside]posted by SeizeTheDay at 6:48 PM PST - 11 comments

I am studying to become a psychologist with a sub-specialty in interpersonal relations. I am 30 and single for the first time in 11 years. With everything I learn about relationships I feel a little more disheartened. Now I'm starting to feel at a loss. The things I learn about attraction I think about applying to any potential mate. I feel like I would be cheating in doing so. [more inside]posted by MayNicholas at 6:41 PM PST - 29 comments

I'm doing a research project where I'm trying to envision the 'kitchen of the future' - the way to organise your kitchen/eating/etc area so that in 5, 10, and 20 years that it will work well for a busy family with kids.
We do so much in our kitchens! A lot of people already consider it their homes' "command centre", where they spend a lot of their time and where people congregate. Help me out (please!) and let me know:
- What do you do in your kitchen/eating area?
- What do you wish you could do? Better, more easily, or at all?
- What would your ultimate kitchen have - as far as setup and 'stuff' - to make it the ultimate centre of your home? posted by Kololo at 4:56 PM PST - 26 comments

ChinaFilter: What are some interesting and unusual medicine or tonics or elixirs I can buy in China that is not readily available anywhere else? [more inside]posted by gttommy at 4:19 PM PST - 5 comments

I've just been informed by my ISP, which hosts all of my client's sites and email, that the email servers are being switched tonight and tomorrow morning all my clients have to add new email accounts with new user names (but same email address.) In addition, the new accounts will not have any of the old emails.... [more inside]posted by juiceCake at 4:07 PM PST - 10 comments

Children of-ailing-seniors-especially-from-California-filter:
80 year old Mom in law broke her hip 8 weeks ago. Always a bit dif't and "the hyper controlling" type, she raised kids and even held down a career.
Now that she's in the hospital, that control game... none of the nurses want any part her intense and alienating desire to run the show. Absent her control-type coping mechanism, Mom-in-law is losing her stuff. Rapidly. Entirely.
The Medicare / HMO (no deductables to pay.ever!) plan will pitch pills at her but no hands-on treatment (IOW counseling) whatsoever. She needs better care than the HMO will allow. Long Dx short: She's pretty much dying from lack of mental health coverage.
>>>Is dumping Medicare / HMO plan and switching to to Medicare / MediCal (she's fully elligable) in fact likely to result in affording Mom-in-law a broader spectrum of treatments and perhaps better care? posted by Fupped Duck at 4:00 PM PST - 3 comments

I share/vent my feelings with colleagues/peers at work about my boss/other peers.
I find it helpful to releive my stress. Is this something normal...
Sometimes i feel guilt that i should not speak....Is this
something immoral.
I do not have bad intentions and am quite honest
when i express/share them ...
I sometimes have fear, that people will spread
this one-to-one talk i have with them, to others and
it might finally reach to the person, whom i am talking
about and afraid to face the wrath of the other person... posted by mot123 at 3:07 PM PST - 17 comments

I need help understanding how to switch to a VOIP service, with bonus points for recommendations about an ISP in Ottawa that can provide dry loop DSL. [more inside]posted by valleys at 2:58 PM PST - 5 comments

Does anyone know of a good online resource that explains in detail the exact series of events that is predicted to occur as a result of climate change if it continues on its current path? [more inside]posted by textilephile at 2:42 PM PST - 3 comments

On Tuesday, I had a 9-hour flight back from Paris. I drank as much water and non-caffeinated liquid as I could. Within 2-3 hours of landing, I found that my septum was rather sore to the touch. [more inside]posted by gsh at 2:37 PM PST - 6 comments

Disneyworld Epcot's "The Seas with Nemo & Friends" ride: Near the end of the ride, as we travel by in our clamshell wagons, we look through a large window to see various animated Nemo characters projected in 3D into an actual fishtank containing living, respiring denizens of the deep. How did they create that illusion? The illusion doesn't seem to falter with the changing viewing angle of the moving wagon. posted by bbranden1 at 2:32 PM PST - 4 comments

Where can I take (or simulate taking) a basic calculus course for free or cheap. I don't care about credits or anything, I just need to defeat calculus. This time, it's personal. [more inside]posted by dumbledore69 at 2:18 PM PST - 14 comments

Gmail Contacts filter: I'd like to control the width of column displays in my Gmail contacts list. Right now the "Name" column is too narrow - long names get cut off by the "Details" column. Also, I would like to be able to display the "Notes" from the contact entry form on the "All Contacts" display. Can you hope me? posted by Irontom at 1:18 PM PST - 2 comments

I live in Hollywood, and I am seeing news stories that the smoke from the SoCal wildfires are coming right at me in the next few days. What level of danger in my in? Do I need to evac? Seriously, is this causing permanent damage to my delicate lungs? posted by scrawlyman at 1:01 PM PST - 13 comments

Help me make my next doctor's appointment more productive than my last one. This is about GI stuff. It is long. It is gross. You are warned. [more inside]posted by fuzzbean at 11:47 AM PST - 28 comments

I hesitate posting this question, but I have the highest of faith in fellow MeFi's to not only answer my question but understand why I ask for help to find a hat I thought was so cool... [more inside]posted by gnash at 11:25 AM PST - 12 comments

Since it's almost Halloween and all, I need ideas for foods that look disgusting but don't taste disgusting. Does anyone have any good recipes or sources? [more inside]posted by thirteenkiller at 10:37 AM PST - 31 comments

Looking for high end slide show software. I am putting together a slide show of family pictures and have been approached by others to put together slide shows for them as well. I am proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator and enjoy the challenges and rewards that using them brings. [more inside]posted by aisleofview at 9:41 AM PST - 5 comments

My friend's wife is recovering from breast cancer. They removed the tumor a couple weeks ago, and they found no sign that the cancer had spread to the lymph system. She's expected to make a full recovery. But in order to kill any remaining cancer cells, for the next 2 months she'll be undergoing chemotherapy, and then 1 month of radiation therapy afterwards. What can I do to make life easier and/or lift the spirits of her and her husband? [more inside]posted by Vorteks at 8:47 AM PST - 28 comments

[BaseballFilter] Am I right that ballots for MLB's Cy Young, MVP, and Rookie of the Year awards (among others) are cast before the postseason begins, and, if I have that right, what is the rationale for not considering, or at least giving voters a chance to consider, postseason performance? posted by jmstephan at 7:49 AM PST - 19 comments

packet loss wreaks more havoc than it ought to on ssh sessions... even when connectivity returns, the session can take take a dozen seconds to return to interactivity. it's often faster to reconnect with a new session than to wait for the established session to recover. frustrating and distracting. has anyone else seen and solved this issue? some kind of retry/timeout/backoff adjustment or something? posted by blah2poboxcom at 7:41 AM PST - 5 comments

I have an interview for a Web dev position with a university next week, for the graduate department (Midwest, Big 10). I read Dress for Success about 30 years ago, but since then I have been mostly a jeans and t-shirts guy. I am out of touch with the business world and academia these days. What should I wear to my interview? posted by bricoleur at 7:40 AM PST - 35 comments

I need some space songs!
I'm putting together a power point slide show for a teachers' awards ceremony. The teachers just finished participating in a professional development program that focused on space science, so I'd like the slide show to have space music to go with the photos. [more inside]posted by batcrazy at 3:51 AM PST - 51 comments

I have a small network of 3 computers at home which connect wireless to a router. Plugged into this router is a Netgear sc101 NAS type device. What I’m looking for is another device that will back up the contents of the sc101 so it can be taken off site. I don’t want to have to do a full backup each time just backup files that have changed or are new is this possible? if so could someone recommend a solution ? posted by toocan at 2:16 AM PST - 4 comments

October 24

I live in a two story loft-ish apartment, and the cat wants to sleep with me upstairs, but only a wood ladder is available. How can I make this happen? [more inside]posted by stewiethegreat at 11:51 PM PST - 20 comments

Is it possible to spoof a Caller ID easily? If so, can you call a number and spoof that number's Caller ID to itself? As in, Person A gets a call from...Person A. [more inside]posted by DMan at 10:23 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm running in circles looking for a quotation. Something about how at the age of 40 you become the person you always were, or always were meant to be, or something like that. Anybody know the quote and who said it? Thx!! posted by Misciel at 8:18 PM PST - 10 comments

[MacFilter] I am trying to back up my iMac onto a portable HD. I get an error for each folder/file name with non-alphanumeric characters, and once the error pops up, the copying stops cold. Please help me find a way around this. [more inside]posted by Capri at 8:09 PM PST - 8 comments

Help me with Web / IT consulting and billable time. Consulting firms make their money on billable hours - what percentage of a 40 hour work week needs to be billable for different roles within the company? [more inside]posted by twiggy at 7:48 PM PST - 7 comments

My band is pondering a move from San Francisco to Kansas City to take advantage of the rent savings and central location for touring. We'll be visiting the town again in a few weeks to check out neighborhoods and rentals -- any advice? [more inside]posted by redshifter at 7:23 PM PST - 16 comments

There's this odor. I don't know what it is or how to describe it except as dry, organic, and searing. Noisome and musty. But not organic like shit nor like mildew. Not searing like acid. Astringent but not like alcohol. A staleness, certainly, that tickles the throat and makes the eyes water. A malodorous fustiness, raw but not putrid. [more inside]posted by Grod at 7:19 PM PST - 16 comments

A small and easily answered question: If I take the Acela from Baltimore to Manhattan (Penn Station), where's the most convenient place for someone to meet me and pick me up? [more inside]posted by peachfuzz at 7:17 PM PST - 6 comments

What can I expect from taking a break from hormonal birth control? How long does it take the hormones to clear out of your system? Which hormonal birth control side effects disappear and which stay? Factual and anecdotal advice welcome! [more inside]posted by schroedinger at 6:52 PM PST - 24 comments

Why does my MP3 player run out of battery power so rapidly when I connect it to an amplifier and speakers as versus when it is connected to my headphones? [more inside]posted by geos at 6:45 PM PST - 4 comments

When you sell, offload or buy something on Craigslist, Freecycle, etc., where do you complete the transaction? Is it unsafe to just do it at your home? [more inside]posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 5:46 PM PST - 39 comments

I will soon be put in charge of putting together a secure website for my company. It won't be terribly complex (I think), and it doesn't have to look terribly pretty, but as a relative newbie to something like this, I need some advice as to what software to use. [more inside]posted by zardoz at 5:02 PM PST - 11 comments

I'd really like to switch to Mac, and just got a MacBook Pro. Because of my vision, I really need everything to be larger in order to see the screen comfortably. (I previously used a 15" ThinkPad at 1024x768, and a 19" monitor at 1280x1024) On the Mac, the screen's set at 1440x800, and everything appears incredibly tiny. I really need it to be at 1152x720 to feel comfortable using it, but everything becomes fuzzy since this is a non-native resolution of the LCD. I've also tried everything else I can think of to make things larger, including adjusting browser text sizes, playing with the settings in System Preferences, and hacks in the Terminal such as adjusting adjusting the display factor, which nearly does it but is quite buggy. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there anything else worth trying? Is it possible to hire someone to replace the LCD in the MacBook Pro with a one that has a lower native resolution? Or am I stuck with my ThinkPad for the forseeable future? posted by lsemel at 4:44 PM PST - 19 comments

Mac OS X filter: In terminal, if I go to / and ls, I see a bunch of folders that are hidden in Finder, for example /etc, /private, /sbin, and so on. How do I add a folder to that list? [more inside]posted by jon4009 at 2:24 PM PST - 8 comments

I am 35 and half years old. I am planning of doing
part-time MBA after taking up GMAT.
(I plan to work in non-profit after finishing MBA.Currently
a software engineer working in u.s.a)
Do you think i am too old for MBA ? posted by tom123 at 2:19 PM PST - 18 comments

CMSFilter: I need a CMS that supports multiple authors *per-post* because many of the authors collaborate. A search on any one author should bring up anything they've been a part of, as well as their own stuff. [more inside]posted by Wild_Eep at 1:03 PM PST - 10 comments

All of a sudden my toilet hisses when I flush it. As well as being an annoying sound, it also refills the tank very slowly. I'm no handyman but I'm loathe to pay a plumber if it's something simple I can fix myself. In the video I push the float down to demonstrate what happens on flush. Any ideas?
flush videoposted by razzman at 11:58 AM PST - 8 comments

I have a Masters in Library Science. I received it a year and a bit back. In that time, I have been applying for a job in the public library sector as a reference librarian. I am not getting anywhere though I am following professional protocol in regards to a sound cover letter and solid resume. I got a 3.6 GPA in the program which is decent but not perfect. Decent, though. I have recently been broadening my search to places outside of my home state of Indiana (and Indianapolis). If you have any recommendations for the best job site areas to review on a regular basis, I am interested. [more inside]posted by snap_dragon at 11:09 AM PST - 19 comments

Looking for fun things to do/see around Sunriver, Oregon this weekend. We'll be there Thursday through Sunday. Familiar with the Bend, OR area? [more inside]posted by charlesroper at 11:01 AM PST - 9 comments

UK Trains: If I buy a ticket for a journey with changes which specifies that it can only be used on particular trains, what happens if train 1 is late getting me to my connection and I miss train 2, do I become eligible for later travel? [more inside]posted by biffa at 10:55 AM PST - 6 comments

Can anyone think of a good reason why my dentist can't (won't) provide me with copies of the digital radiographs of my teeth? They say they can provide copies, but I've seen what copies of their digital pix look like and they're awful. The digital pix are just files on a laptop - why can't they copy them to a flash card? I even offered to provide the card. You would think paying $3,000.00 worth of dental work would be enough to cover copies of digital pictures? I don't want to cause problems with my dentist as he is my son's dentist as well and don't want to rock the boat unless it's absolutely necessary. So, I thought maybe a MeFite might have a logical explanation that I'm just missing. Thanks! posted by Gerard Sorme at 10:47 AM PST - 38 comments

I am applying to grad school. The deadline is approaching. Where can I go to get my letter of intent (personal statement) read and critiqued? [more inside]posted by iamkimiam at 10:11 AM PST - 16 comments

I just need an all-in-one printer that will copy, print and scan. Don't need fax really. This is for home use. I currently have an Epson CX4600, actually it's the 2nd one in 3 years. The first one died before the warranty was up, so they sent me a new one and I sent the old one back. Now this one won't print or copy. I've tried all of the trouble shooting things. Epson says I have to buy a new one. I dont want another Epson. posted by sandra194 at 10:10 AM PST - 17 comments

I badly need help on formalisms in Quantum Mechanics! I just read this post from 2 years ago, and it did help a little, but not really enough. [more inside]posted by kureshii at 9:40 AM PST - 7 comments

Okay, my neighbors, in Albuquerque, have taken it upon themselves to make use of their security light, keeping it on from 7pm until sunrise, and, well, it's driving me nuts. What options do I have? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:11 AM PST - 28 comments

Our main MS Access database seems to have ballooned mysteriously. Our membership database which was 12 megabytes as of at least April is now 78! We did not acquire 66 megabytes worth of new members, whats the deal? [more inside]posted by BobbyDigital at 7:58 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for a streaming radio station playing the latest in Arab pop music. There used to be a fantastic one called Beirut Mood Radio a number of months ago. Sadly, it disappeared without a trace. Something in the vein of Hifa Wehbe would be fantastic. A shoutcast (or icecast) stream would be preferable. Windows Media doesn't work for me. Many thanks. posted by grahamux at 7:16 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm getting married near Bowie, MD and I'm in search of a decent DJ but I'm not entirely sure the criteria I should use to evaluate them outside of testimonials and calling up references. My question is: 1) how do you evaluate the various DJs and 2) does anyone have a DJ they strongly recommend? Thanks! posted by wangarific at 6:59 AM PST - 4 comments

Where can I buy myself a lovely second-hand analogue synth in London? It's my birthday, I'm alone, the only way out is to buy a new instrument as a present to myself. Nothing TOO expensive - I'm thinking a Juno 106 or something. Is there any shop that might stock one? posted by Ted Maul at 5:28 AM PST - 4 comments

SchmoozeFilter: How can I interact intelligently with VIPs and other (self-) important people at networking events? Are there any salespeople out there who can help me? (I'm a government worker operating at the interface between the operational and the political, and much of my work involves protecting sources of funding). [more inside]posted by KokuRyu at 9:59 PM PST - 9 comments

Help me plan a road trip for me & the wife! Los Angeles to Portland Oregon. We're planning the trip for 8 days (roundtrip), preferably no more than about 8 hours driving time per day. We'd like to spend at least one full day in Portland. [more inside]posted by edjusted at 7:33 PM PST - 18 comments

What's the best marketing strategy for an independent contractor looking to focus on distribution centers and third party logistics providers?
Long-winded version inside... [more inside]posted by cdmwebs at 7:32 PM PST - 3 comments

I have lived in a studio apartment for the past several years and avoided having people over to hang out. Now that I've graduated to a one-bedroom apartment, I'm more comfortable having comany over again. My apartment is still pretty small, but I'm working on making it inviting. My idea: First Friday movie night. Now what? [more inside]posted by meindee at 6:22 PM PST - 30 comments

I have an idea for yet another hairbrained social networking website (which paradoxically might hit it big :-) ). I've coded most of it up on a linux server using apache, php, mysql at softlayer.com. The hostname is registered at godaddy (which I can change if desirable). What's the minimum I need to do the following (I'd rather work on the website application logic and learn as little as possible about mail server administration for now): [more inside]posted by realpseudonym at 4:21 PM PST - 8 comments

My friend myn asks: If you wanted to draw a n equalateral triangle dead center on a rectangle. How would you most efficinently do this using a pen, paper, ruler? THANKS! posted by fe2dell at 3:59 PM PST - 23 comments

I have a Dell Inspiron 531 desktop that came with an Athlon X2 64 5600+ processor. I have heard that the last in this line of processors (and the last socket AM2) will be the 6400 - did I lock myself into a dead-end CPU upgrade path? Or will I be able to upgrade in the future to AMD's next line of processors, whatever it is? posted by nervestaple at 3:32 PM PST - 3 comments

Google Analytics Question: Over a five month period, it's telling me I've had about 300 visitors who have read my site between 9 and 100 times.
I realize this is small potatoes in the World O' Blogs, but it seems entirely too high to me. Please explain how Google thinks 20 semi-loyal visitors (my estimate) is 300. Surely they are mostly bots? posted by eurasian at 1:26 PM PST - 7 comments

Which news client should I use? Most of the ones I used are slow. Also it seems when I download mp3s, it shoves them all in the same folder- that's pretty annoying as I have to manually sort them. [more inside]posted by PowerCat at 1:22 PM PST - 12 comments

Survivalist/LazyStudentFilter: I need advise on the feasibility of making my own "canned" meals (but without the can), using boil-able/freezable/microwavable plastic pouches, a vacuum sealer, and a pressure cooker. May interest cheap and lazy students, busy people, and survivalists - if it works. Details inside... [more inside]posted by jytsai at 1:05 PM PST - 12 comments

A cognitive behavioral therapist and/or a psychiatrist in Northern NJ or NYC? I know a similar question was posted in April, but I think a lot of the replies were emailed directly to the poster. [more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:46 AM PST - 0 comments

What can I do about my roommates that f**k with me? Is there some legal way to deal with this? Is there some sort of Jedi mind trick I can put on them to make them stop? It is really getting bad and it may turn violent. Please help find a way to deal with this. [more inside]posted by Botunda at 11:11 AM PST - 60 comments

Posting for a friend: I am looking for a geometric painting by Auguste Herbin. The title that I think is correct is "Eight 1", but I can't seem to find anything online with that title. Help. [more inside]posted by 23skidoo at 10:20 AM PST - 4 comments

Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point - I plan on spending next weekend in Yosemite, staying in a tent cabin at Curry Village and doing this hike with a friend. Has anyone done this trail and/ or have advice to offer? [more inside]posted by The_Partridge_Family at 10:19 AM PST - 6 comments

In the U.S., there are those songs that relentlessly show up everywhere. Songs like C&C Music Factory's "Good Vibrations," for example. I've heard it on numerous commercials, shows, in arenas, etc. These are songs that are still used LONG past their 15 minutes of fame due date. But what about other countries? [more inside]posted by agregoli at 9:44 AM PST - 21 comments

Is the portrayal of CPR in tv/movies totally bunk? I read somewhere that CPR can't actually return someone to consciousness, but rather just keeps them alive long enough to receive more advanced medical treatment. Is this actually the case, or could CPR alone revive someone? [more inside]posted by Nelsormensch at 9:35 AM PST - 17 comments

For this year's Religious Studies Dept. Halloween party (theme: dress as a religious character), my partner and I want to go as Zombie Jesus and Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter. Is this offensive? If not, can you help me plan the costumes? I have never seen JCVH (and won't be able to before the party), what would an appropriate costume be? [more inside]posted by arcticwoman at 9:10 AM PST - 29 comments

Please help me locate some rubber shoes. I want them to be completely rubber, so I can just rinse them clean under running water. They're not for what you think... ;) [more inside]posted by Solomon at 8:56 AM PST - 14 comments

After hearing this story on NPR this morning about the Harmony Database of al Qaeda correspondence, I began wondering what other public databases like this exist out there that are ripe for analysis and picking apart. I'm looking specifically for things like this related to the "War on Terrorism" and the Iraq War, but older stuff would be good too. posted by proj at 8:49 AM PST - 2 comments

I climbed up on our Philly rowhome's roof a couple months ago to have a look at it & came across a couple of raised sections that I'm curious about. Are they roof hatches? Skylights? Nothing? [more inside]posted by zempf at 8:46 AM PST - 11 comments

I have the Ipod Touch which I enjoy EXCEPT for its newly crippled alarm clock. My previous Ipod would play a playlist as the alarm sound. The Touch doesn't do this and it's slowly driving me crazy. I own an Ipod docking clock radio so all may not be lost. [more inside]posted by bovious at 8:31 AM PST - 5 comments

A patriarch is the top father-figure, the peerless dad.
I used the word "plutarch" to mean someone of peerless wealth, mixing "plutocracy" and "patriarch"... but it turns out the only Plutarch is a Greek biographer. What word should I use? posted by Mozai at 7:24 AM PST - 24 comments

I have a friend who is getting married next year. Her husband-to-be is Jewish, and they will be incorporating symbolism from his faith into their non-traditional ceremony. I would like advice from those with more experience/knowledge than my own, before I make a requested item for them. [more inside]posted by librarianamy at 7:16 AM PST - 12 comments

Is there a way of determining how much heat I am losing by opening versus closing the shutters of a drafty window? And also, determining how much heat I am gaining when the sunlight streams in through the open shutters? [more inside]posted by jujube at 7:05 AM PST - 4 comments

Sexy Suits: This weekend I saw a woman wearing a blazer with a double-hem at the bottom, kind of like this one. It wasn't that one though - it was sharper, nicer fabric, not as round, with stronger diagonal line from the hip downwards. I so need one of these jackets! [more inside]posted by barnone at 7:00 AM PST - 3 comments

I am really curious about this page [nsfw image] ... what kind of wild cat is this? Bonus questions include the gist of what the page says & what the cat is playing with in the last few pictures... [more inside]posted by catfood at 6:35 AM PST - 17 comments

Am I charged if I leave on the wifi and whenever I use the GPS? I'd hate to find some gi-normous phone bill just because I play with the GPS when I'm wait for the metro... [more inside]posted by mateuslee at 4:17 AM PST - 9 comments

Can anyone recommend a good home inspector in Houston?
And more generally, how does one search out a good home inspector - I've heard that real estate agents tend to recommend those who "tend to minimize defects to keep the referring agents happy." [more inside]posted by sebastienbailard at 1:02 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for a spreadsheet program for OS X that will allow me to essentially create a dictionary list, in alphabetical order... the crucial element is that it needs to be able to contain images in the cells (some definitions have diagrams)! [more inside]posted by Yiggs at 12:38 AM PST - 9 comments

This question is dumb, (but so am I). I need to find a trivial bit of apparel but can't think of the most direct way of going about getting it. If you check out this video around 0:25 (or 2:13 here), I need that thingie on the bassist's wrist. It's like a wristband but it's thicker goes up the forearm a little more. Were you in the Boston area where would you go to find something like that that doesn't involve just random stores + hope? posted by Firas at 12:12 AM PST - 11 comments

Let's say I was selling really cool handmade and individually numbered socks. They would be organic and would have 3% of their sales donated to a charity. Now, let's say I set a cap at 400 pairs a month. Would you be intrigued to purchase them? [more inside]posted by 913 at 12:04 AM PST - 26 comments

October 22

I have a list of a few hundred people involved with the school I am at this year, and I need to break the names into First, Middle, and Last Name. Is there a way to make excel go through a list of names and at any point where there is a character break (a space like this---> ) put the rest of the cell one over to the right? posted by daviss at 11:08 PM PST - 13 comments

You capitalize "The Civil War", right? And you capitalize "The Civil Rights Movement", right? Do you capitalize "The Women's Movement"? Do you capitalize "The Anti-Globalization Movement"? What about the "Spay and Neuter 'Movement'"? Is every specific movement or event in history considered a proper noun – and if not, why not? Do I get to just arbitrarily decide what to capitalize in these sorts of examples, or is there some 'rule' that only applies to historic events that hold a certain level of significance – and who decides what is significant enough? [more inside]posted by serazin at 9:45 PM PST - 43 comments

Met girl abroad, corresponded for several months, met again, got together, started living together as soon as I got back to the states. Now I've moved across the country, and she's set to follow soon. I'm not sure I want her to. What do I do? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 9:30 PM PST - 42 comments

I'm a lifelong Anglophile, and I have an unhealthy interest in reading about modern British life and society. Basically I'm looking to buy (in America) (imported) British magazines ... [more inside]posted by Mael Oui at 9:16 PM PST - 19 comments

Two related questions about North Korea: (1) Can anyone point me to a distributor, collector, or other source of North Korean films, either on DVD/VHS or (ideally) on film? (2) How would I go about directing a letter there? [more inside]posted by bubukaba at 7:26 PM PST - 7 comments

I'm looking for a recommendation for a good and attentive gastroenterologist in the D.C. or Maryland area. One that specializes in Crohn's would be excellent. [more inside]posted by divka at 6:16 PM PST - 4 comments

Please help me figure out how to obtain an electronic copy of an article titled "Why 1955? Explaining the Advent of Rock Music," by Richard A. Peterson. Google Books has a truncated version here, but I'd like the whole thing. [more inside]posted by univac at 6:10 PM PST - 7 comments

FlushFilter:Toilet has a lazy flush (i.e. going down slowly) - I think the problem might be a clog that is bulding up, but a plunger and closet auger (i.e. a snake) don't seem to do the trick. What now? [more inside]posted by bitteroldman at 5:43 PM PST - 18 comments

I've upgraded to Ubuntu 7.10, and now I seem to be having problems with both my wireless and graphics card. Any help would be greatly appreciated. [more inside]posted by Doofus Magoo at 5:24 PM PST - 28 comments

Cardio isn't doing it for me. The diet change is working verrry slowly, but I want to lose 10 pounds. Problem is, I can't lift anything heavier than 15 pounds, so is weight training even an option? [more inside]posted by Unicorn on the cob at 3:06 PM PST - 20 comments

[Ohgodno!Filter] My iBook G4 has for months been making a weird sound when I move it, but today something in the vicinity of the hard-drive has started to make a sharp rhythmic whine/scrape when the laptop is tilted. Is there any hope other than bringing it into the shop? [more inside]posted by Marquis at 1:49 PM PST - 15 comments

How was the Civil War .58 Springfield rifle reloaded? I understand that it was a percussion-cap rifle rather than a flintlock, and that it fired a muzzle-loaded minie ball. But what was the reloading process? What did the ammunition look like? There was no metal cartridge involved? How long did it take to reload and fire one of those things? Thanks, from a firearms n00b! posted by jackypaper at 1:45 PM PST - 8 comments

I just bought a brand new car and wondered about buying clear floor mats.
The car comes with floor mats that are rubber on one side and carpet on the other side and right now I have them turned to the rubber side because we have wet weather.
I live in a drier area of the Pacific Northwest but do not want my carpet dirty when we do get snow and slush.
If I buy clear mats, are the ones at the local car supply store good enough?
some people cut their own from the clear runners you find at office supply stores but that sounds like a pain.
Any advice?
Thank you! posted by seekingsimplicity at 1:12 PM PST - 6 comments

What am I allergic to? I have reactions from the following: bean sprouts, kiwi, bananas, pecans, and lots and lots of raw vegetables such as carrots and raw snap pea pods, though I can eat them cooked with no problem. [more inside]posted by item at 12:56 PM PST - 17 comments

Hi all. I'm new to the site, though I've been searching and reading posts having to do with having a kid for the past couple of weeks. I have a question I'd like to pose to people interested in such matters.
That is, can you have an intimate, supportive, loving, and prioritized relationship with your partner after you have a kid? [more inside]posted by cellocat at 12:49 PM PST - 57 comments

I'm thinking of being the 2007 Writer's Strike for Halloween (because, you know, November 1st will be pretty scary for us WGA members living paycheck to paycheck.) Now-- how to make this snarky, intangible and in-joke-ridden costume idea a reality? [more inside]posted by np312 at 12:26 PM PST - 19 comments

ColdFusion MX 7 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005. There's a lot of unvalidated parameters in our CFQUERYs. But, I'm told that putting the parameters in single-quotes will prevent injection attacks, because of the way ColdFusion escapes single-quotes. Is this foolproof, or do I have to go in and validate everything with CFQUERYPARAM tags? posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:24 PM PST - 3 comments

If cities (or the pressure on city services) grow faster than the wealth held by individuals grows, how does the bottom not fall out given that municipal growth is largely funded by taxes? [more inside]posted by regicide is good for you at 11:54 AM PST - 34 comments

I've been depressed on and off for 20 years but this is new, and scary. (Contains probably too much information but I'm trying to cover any potential questions) [more inside]posted by anonymous at 11:41 AM PST - 50 comments

How do I access 'my documents' on a HD rescued from a defunct laptop which is now connected to my desktop via USB? I get the message: "access is denied".
I am running Windows XP Home Edition. [more inside]posted by Parsnip at 11:39 AM PST - 3 comments

When books are placed on a shelf, why do some books have their spine title and author type reading downward, and others have upward-reading type? [more inside]posted by fandango_matt at 11:17 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm going to be temporarily using a friend's car to commute. The concern is that my friend only has minimum liability insurance. I think I'm a safe driver and all, but I'd prefer for any potential accidents or damage to involve only myself, my wallet, and my insurance - and for my friend to get off scot-free. What do I need to do? This is in CA. [more inside]posted by Xere at 10:21 AM PST - 4 comments

A caveat: I prefer New Green Bo to all of these. However, with a group of 10 friends from out of town, do you recommend Jing Fong, Golden Unicorn or another one of Manhattan's giant dim sum emporiums? I'm looking for quality and range. I haven't been back in Jing Fong since it was remodeled but I assume it's still pretty nice. posted by luriete at 9:08 AM PST - 12 comments

Is there anyway to make K-Cup coffee not taste like dishwater? We have a Keurig machine at the office and it makes just barely tolerable coffee. Are there any flavors out there that actually make a good cup? Are there any settings on the machine you can fiddle with? posted by empath at 8:40 AM PST - 14 comments

How do I change a cartridge on my konica minolta magicolor 2430DL? I have changed yellow and magenta and now the new ink cartridges register as totally empty. What am I doing wrong? HELP! posted by cg2 at 8:12 AM PST - 4 comments

I have a great pair of Fluevog leather boots lined with leather on the inside. The leather lining has worn through inside one heel cup and is starting to rip more and more every time I wear them. Is it possible to get this fixed at a reasonable cost? Anyone know a shoe repairer in NYC who would do a good job? I want to save my boots! Thanks! posted by agent99 at 7:14 AM PST - 4 comments

Any advice on which websites offer the best information on IR35 in the UK in a format that would allow me to easily keep up to date with the latest developments or issues? [more inside]posted by monkeyforest at 6:03 AM PST - 2 comments

Can you lose fat and build muscle with resistance training alone? I'm with a trainer who claims that building muslce through resistance training and reasonable eating is enough to destroy fat. He claims there's little need for specific cardio sessions -- that there's enough cardio in his resistance sessions and in daily life. Wrong? [more inside]posted by Malad at 5:54 AM PST - 31 comments

Hi,
I'm in the UK, where can I buy a Serbia replica football shirt? The away one. I have looked everywhere online and it seems the only ones you can buy are the Serbia and Montenegro Lotto shirt (the old one).
I've looked everywhere - any ideas? posted by mooreeasyvibe at 5:39 AM PST - 1 comment

I'm scoping out buying a business in Central Europe. What questions should I ask to get the low down on whether the company is in good shape in initial talks with present owner? [more inside]posted by Gratishades at 2:48 AM PST - 2 comments

October 21

what is the best therapy, help etc. for a groin pull I got chasing a little 9th grade....never mind. The main point is, will it heal 100 percent? How can i help that? I'm 44, losing weight and used to be fast and strong for my size. posted by tristanshout at 11:48 PM PST - 2 comments

Embarrassing Spice Girls Tickets Question: I have a code to purchase tickets for the Toronto show. I don't have a credit card so I can't buy them online. They go onsale tomorrow morning. Can I buy them at a retail outlet? Anyone have any experience with other cities? posted by yellowbinder at 10:26 PM PST - 10 comments

I have a 2.33 Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro 15 inch laptop. Recently, I have noticed that both fans on it constantly run at the maximum 6000 rpm's. The noise is driving me nuts, and the battery seems to run out much sooner. My question is in two parts: (1) would anything in the system logs help explain why this is happening? and (2) how can I make it stop? [more inside]posted by crazyray at 10:19 PM PST - 9 comments

I saw an ad this weekend picturing two women hikers wearing large backpacks in a gym on treadmills. The tagline was something similar to" Save the environment before there's nothing left to save."
Where can I find this image? Google gives me nothing. posted by Etta Hollis at 7:25 PM PST - 7 comments

Browser hijack- on a MAC?! Both Firefox & Safari on our iBook will only access a page that says, "Welcome to Comcast" and wants us to "Click here to install". We have internet service with AT&T and my PC on the same network is working fine. [more inside]posted by Mamapotomus at 6:30 PM PST - 14 comments

California legal/medical/ethical question: In advance of my going to the hospital to give birth within the next few weeks, I decided to download and fill out California's standard Advance Health Care Directive form, i.e. a living will (and to have my husband fill his out too, as long as we were at it). However, Google informs me via multiple sources that this form, even if signed and notarized, is "not valid if pregnant". WTF? [more inside]posted by Asparagirl at 6:04 PM PST - 15 comments

Need to find a peer-reviewed journal available online, right now, that can provide me with an article (case study!) that it no more than 3 years old, about childhood nutrition, specifically obesity, for free. [more inside]posted by sindas at 5:43 PM PST - 3 comments

I've got a continuing ache-y pain in my left leg in two spots. I also have been suffering restless leg syndrome (in both legs, but especially that one) for quite a while and recently (1.5 months ago) started taking Requip, which seems to help with the RLS. The ache-y pain is a recent thing though, starting about two weeks ago. What should I ask my doctor to check? [more inside]posted by Kickstart70 at 5:17 PM PST - 6 comments

I'm looking for a mail-order photo developing service that will take 120 film. I love the concept of Snapfish, but they only take 35mm! Is there a decent service out there that does medium-format? posted by katillathehun at 3:22 PM PST - 5 comments

Last week in DC, I was at a hotel and happened to bump into actor Terrence Howard. I'm very good with faces, this was most definitely him. He was kind enough to sign an autograph for me but when I looked at it I couldn't recognize his name there at all. Finally I flipped the page over and saw that the reversed image reads "Terry Howard". I'm just curious as to whether he does that with his signature very often? Are there other celebrities who sign backwards? Seems like an odd but amusing affectation. posted by ktoad at 2:07 PM PST - 22 comments

One of my cats has decided that the litter box is just fine for peeing, but that the area approximately 2 feet away from the box is the BEST PLACE EVER to poop. We've been using enzyme cleaners to get her smell off of it, but it's not seeming to work. Halp, magical pet intarwebs! [more inside]posted by InnocentBystander at 12:51 PM PST - 14 comments

Why is GMail and Yahoo mail so sluggish, but everything else fast on my network? Just about every other site works fast and great - YouTube, even BitTorrent downloads - but GMail and Yahoo mail both hang like crazy. Sometimes reloading the page works for a few minutes, but not always. [more inside]posted by Unsomnambulist at 12:12 PM PST - 5 comments

So, I saw a jacket at Banana Republic I liked, and I decided to buy it. I was offered 20% off if I applied for a store card, which I did. I plan to close the account when I pay off the jacket. [more inside]posted by mpls2 at 10:57 AM PST - 26 comments

In medical shows like House or E.R., the doctor will often shine a flashlight in to the eye of a comatose patient, but the pupil doesn't constrict. How do they do this special effect? [more inside]posted by 0xFCAF at 1:23 AM PST - 7 comments

October 20

Please suggest elegant graphic/web/web-viewable designs featuring rainbows or rainbow-like/themed elements to inspire me. I'm working on a site for an organization with "Rainbow" in the name, and am having a hard time avoiding both hokeyness (on one end) and austerity (as I overcompensate). [more inside]posted by amtho at 10:39 PM PST - 17 comments

You've probably seen this toy Jacob's Ladder before. I'm wondering if there are any other illusions that use the same principle, and whether they can be easily recreated by crafty amatuers. [more inside]posted by maryh at 10:15 PM PST - 9 comments

What is the name of the practical joke you play on people, where you pretend to take them xyz hunting, and you get them to go wait somewhere while you "flush" the xyz out. But you actually just like...go home. posted by aleahey at 9:03 PM PST - 30 comments

In Vancouver, BC, the avenues are numbered sequentially, except the street that should be 9th Ave is called Broadway. I thought nothing of this until noticing that the same is true in Eugene, OR. Is that a bizarre coincidence or is there more to it? I thought maybe it was the same in NYC but it doesn't look like it. What gives? posted by PercussivePaul at 7:30 PM PST - 13 comments

What is the most optimistic music known to humankind, and what is the most pessimistic or depressing music known to humankind? I'm looking for genres but I'm focusing on songs. I am also interested to see which side wins in this competition -- I'd suspect the darker side defeats the lighter side in quantity, but what about quality? posted by Knigel at 6:39 PM PST - 76 comments

is it possible to play region 1 DVDs on a region 2 macbook without changing the drive setting? I can play them using VLC player on my PC but the mac just ejects the disc if I don't change the drive setting to region 1. Is there any way around this or will I have to keep my old PC around to play all my American DVDs? posted by Andy Harwood at 4:43 PM PST - 20 comments

My dad needs a new laptop, he's far too old to be pissing about with all the problems and incomprehensible interface rearrangements of Vista so he needs XP. I need it by the beginning of November.
I'm in the UK [more inside]posted by missmagenta at 4:09 PM PST - 13 comments

Last week with the help of AskMetaFilter I installed a new hard drive and a fresh install of Windows XP. Thanks!
Now I would like opinions on software and utilities. Hopefully free. [more inside]posted by snowjoe at 3:22 PM PST - 24 comments

A friend of mine is in talks with a certain comic book writer to adapt a certain graphic novel for the stage. According to the writer's manager, they're interested in at least one run of the show, provided he can show them a satisfactory proposal. Great news! The only problem is, what should that proposal consist of and look like, for presentation to the writer and his manager? posted by Sticherbeast at 2:09 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for bible/quran/"insert holy book here" quotes that say something to the effect of "You will be taken care of" or "you are in my hands" or somesuch. Verses that say that no matter what happens, I will be looked after. I'm not looking for verses that say "You are loved". [more inside]posted by Rabulah at 1:31 PM PST - 26 comments

Is there a doodad that I can hook onto my laptop that will allow me to close it partially, but not let it close all the way? Said gadget should be easily-takeable-offable, too. [more inside]posted by Addlepated at 1:18 PM PST - 8 comments

Is there a way to cook liquid eggwhite so it's the same consistency as eggwhite cooked inside a hardboiled egg? Also, recipes for eggwhites? [more inside]posted by joannemerriam at 12:21 PM PST - 13 comments

I have a vague memory of some show airing during the early 1980s that I think was sponsored by Robin Hood Flour or maybe King Arthur Flour. I have little to no recollection of what happened on the show (some sort of baking challenge for kids maybe?) but I know that I would watch it around lunchtime when I had half-days of kindergarten. It could have been either a PBS or CBC show as we got CKWS out of Kingston, Ont. in my village in Upstate NY. Robin Hood Flour sounds right, so I'm leaning toward it being a Canadian show. Does this ring any bells with anyone? posted by stefnet at 11:47 AM PST - 11 comments

Can anyone shed some light on this Turkish (I think) graffiti my friend saw in a (Japanese) train station and copied down in a hurry? (Text inside -- might be unsavory or even NSFW for all I know.) [more inside]posted by No-sword at 1:46 AM PST - 10 comments

October 19

I've scrupulously screened my therapists to find talented, qualified people who are good at what they do, but my therapeutic relationships always peter out after a few months. How can I keep my psychotherapy on track? Please read the more inside! [more inside]posted by freshwater_pr0n at 11:17 PM PST - 24 comments

Its midnight on Friday. My roof is leaking. Its supposed to rain all weekend. My house is 3 1/2 stories and the leaky part of the (gabled, Queen Anne-style) roof is not easily or safely accessible to without special equipment that I don't have. Assuming that I'm not going to be able to get anyone to fix this before Monday at the earliest, is there anything I can do to to at least mitigate the damage? [more inside]posted by anastasiav at 9:10 PM PST - 7 comments

Hi I was wondering if anyone could recommend to me any sources, either on the internet or of personal experiences and recommendations, of urban exploring in the San Diego area. I am a student at UCSD and Fridays need to be better than catching up on homework. Thank you! posted by albernathy0 at 6:02 PM PST - 10 comments

What amazing, unmissable, not-yet-sold out rock/indie/global/generally awesome concerts anywhere in Europe must I see in the next few months - but *only* on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays? [more inside]posted by mdonley at 2:46 PM PST - 9 comments

Help a migraine sufferer! My girlfriend’s migraines are apparently set off by storm systems and their associated low-pressure fronts. Does anyone have experience with this? [more inside]posted by willie11 at 1:27 PM PST - 23 comments

Sewing and Internet Tutorials: Find me a *really good* *idiot-proof* internet tutorial on how to sew a button onto a suit jacket such that it will: A) Not fall off for a long long time, B) Look professional and all that, and C) Have some (small) length of somehow robust thread between the jacket and the button, like the other buttons. [more inside]posted by sdis at 1:02 PM PST - 9 comments

When I lived in London, I used to bring US friends stuff from Harrods or Harvey Nichols as gifts. Now that I live in LA, what roughly equivalent gifts could I send to people in the UK? Bonus points if it's specifically related to LA, although just US related is good too. [more inside]posted by forallmankind at 11:39 AM PST - 11 comments

I just finished reading Scott Smith's "The Ruins" and loved it. I want to read more books like this (and his original "The Simple Plan"). Basically, I want all the suspense and horror, but the people have to seem real to me. I don't have to like them, I just want to know what they are thinking/feeling/fearing so that they aren't just numbers on some gorefest scoreboard. Bonus points if the author is semi-prolific, so I have choices for further reading. Help me, hive mind! posted by misha at 10:53 AM PST - 14 comments

There's a certificate in my house attesting that the walls, ceilings and floors were insulated with cellulose in 1997. The walls and floors were insulated "to capacity" (whatever that means). The walls are still cold in the winter and I think they are sucking warmth out of the house. Is there anything else that can be done 10 years later other than demolition? Have techniques or materials changed since then? posted by andreap at 10:47 AM PST - 8 comments

I need recommendations for a scanner that will scan documents into black-and-white PDF files in a quick, clear and crisp fashion. I am also interested in hearing of any brands to avoid. [more inside]posted by invisible ink at 10:45 AM PST - 8 comments

How do I perform a FAT32 format of a 2.5" laptop drive that's in an external case connected to a Win2K box via USB? Complication: drive was originally formatted as HFS+ on a Mac. [more inside]posted by jaimev at 10:03 AM PST - 7 comments

How to deal with an old, fraudulent, debt? About 10 years ago, someone racked up $750 worth of phone calls on my phone line. When the bill came, I reported it to Verizon (who was then called Atlantic Bell, I think), and told them the calls were not mine. [more inside]posted by cell divide at 9:55 AM PST - 8 comments

I'm a native Spanish speaker who is also fluent in English. I'm interested in taking on translating jobs on the side (tranlsating documents, for example, keeping it to the written form). What steps do I need to take to get started? [more inside]posted by DrGirlfriend at 9:13 AM PST - 5 comments

Inspired in part by this thread I want to rent a villa in Tuscany. I am reluctant - perhaps needlessly - to do this all over the InterWebs. Does anyone have any experience with an Italian villa renting agent? My ideal answer would be of the form "Contact Signore Agente, he found us a great villa!" But really, any insights from actual experience would be helpful. posted by shothotbot at 8:59 AM PST - 6 comments

I'm planning a 60-70 guest wedding in March, and have settled on a reception venue in the West Village (near Carmine and Bedford). This place can accomodate the Saturday morning wedding ceremony also, but I'd rather choose a different place within walking distance. I'm looking for something out of the ordinary. We are atheist and plan to have an officiant from the Ethical Society. [more inside]posted by maniabug at 8:57 AM PST - 7 comments

How do you figure out what gets in the way of your success in finding someone to date (and ultimately a long-term partner)? Long self-analysis after the break. [more inside]posted by Stewriffic at 8:43 AM PST - 36 comments

What's a good system for gettin' some essential oils smell action in my apartment? I've been reading about the benefits of certain smells to concentration and relaxation and would like to get my smell on. [more inside]posted by parallax7d at 8:25 AM PST - 10 comments

Our dishwasher died and it's probably going to cost about $150 to repair. It's 10 years old so we are going to replace it.
Are there any models out there that are particularly environmentally friendly that don't cost an arm & leg and do a good job? I'll probably spend around $300-$400.
I want to use the least amount of water and electricity to run it, but I want clean dishes, too. posted by GernBlandston at 8:10 AM PST - 16 comments

Besides the obvious collateral benefits to producers and consumers of news, what is the logic of using the time and resources of government officials during an emergency to calculate and report the death/injury toll of a natural or man-made disaster? Does this task aid rescue or recovery efforts in any way? posted by Saucy Intruder at 7:35 AM PST - 11 comments

Despite the recent corruption scandals in Brazil, for the first time since the 1970s, the country is finally showing signs that it is worthy of comparison with its BRIC counterparts. Inflation, the bane of the 1990s, has finally been largely reigned under control, interest rates have fallen to their lowest in living memory, the Brazilian Real continues to rise against the US dollar and BOVESPA - Latin America's largest and busiest stock exchange - continues to grow from strength to strength. [more inside]posted by Zé Pequeno at 5:17 AM PST - 7 comments

Someone posted a spam comment on my blog that came from IP address "192.168.0.165". Since that IP address is reserved for private networks, how on earth did they do that? Is this "IP spoofing"? If so, how does it work? posted by simonw at 4:42 AM PST - 7 comments

I'm applying for a job that wants me to include writing clips/samples in an email. How do I arrange these? I have no idea what writing clips should look like and how I should format them. posted by elr at 3:00 AM PST - 8 comments

How big (in actual dimensions) is a four-cup coffee press? Something similar to this one. I need to knit a cozy for one and I can't find a clear description of the dimensions anywhere. [more inside]posted by web-goddess at 12:07 AM PST - 4 comments

I need . . . adjectives! Is there a *scannable* online dictionary or some way in which I can search through giant lists just for the adjectives? [more inside]posted by Dee Xtrovert at 10:22 PM PST - 9 comments

My mom just gave me about a year and a half's worth of mail that she somehow thought I didn't need while I was away at college. A few of the letters in there are from Federal Student Aid telling me my account is overdue -- meaning that I had a small loan for University of California and when I dropped out of UC, I was apparently liable to pay back my entire loan ASAP. [more inside]posted by oneous at 9:58 PM PST - 9 comments

I have 4-5 vacation days I need to use by the end of this calendar year. I want to use it do some traveling in another country. Where should I go? [more inside]posted by inatizzy at 8:36 PM PST - 11 comments

Camera recommendation, please. Will be used exclusively for macro photography. Full-frame photographs of products from the size of a desktop computer to the sized of a BB. No great need for fancy features, just good digital images. Whatcha recommend? posted by five fresh fish at 8:01 PM PST - 19 comments

Going out clubbing for the first time in years and i'm at a loss for what to wear.
I'm going to be going out to the gay bars / clubs this weekend and have not been out for nearly two years so I'm a but out of touch. [more inside]posted by kzin602 at 7:43 PM PST - 12 comments

How can I, a US citizen, be more informed about my lawmakers' decisions and whether they're doing a good job? I have an example that I wonder about intensely, today's Senate Intelligence Committee meeting. [more inside]posted by cmiller at 6:35 PM PST - 5 comments

I have been caught trying to buy more pseudoephedrine than is allowed by under Federal guidelines. Am I about to be hauled off to the meth version of Gitmo?! [more inside]posted by craichead at 4:53 PM PST - 24 comments

When I go to bed at night, as soon as I shut the light off, I hear this loud buzzing around my face, which is a bug trying to get at me in some way. What is it and how do I get rid of it? [more inside]posted by sweetkid at 4:46 PM PST - 9 comments

I am currently a visiting professor at a liberal arts college. Our department is conducting a search for a tenure track position which I intend to apply for. I need letters of recommendation which address my teaching abilities. The people most qualified to write these letters are my colleagues that are on the search committee. Is it appropriate or inappropriate to ask them to write letters of recommendation for this position? posted by achmorrison at 4:24 PM PST - 12 comments

My employer failed to withdraw my FICA (SS and Medicare) from several paycheck's early this year and want their money back. The thing is, things have changed. [more inside]posted by jmgorman at 3:01 PM PST - 13 comments

Roisin Murphy has a new album out that I will happily pay money for and would like to hear ASAP. Problem is I'm in the States, and physical import CDs don't appear to have hit here yet. Is there any tricksy way for someone outside of the UK to buy from the UK iTunes store? [more inside]posted by Lentrohamsanin at 2:54 PM PST - 11 comments

I want to travel somewhere warm & relaxing over the Christmas holiday -- but not get hosed on the escalated rates in the process. Any suggestions? [more inside]posted by donguanella at 2:23 PM PST - 10 comments

Does anyone know what this facility is (google satellite image, Action, California.) It looks like a nursery, or something similar, but I'm trying to get more specifics for a hiking guide I'm working on (without taking the long, long drive out there.) posted by soulbarn at 2:17 PM PST - 10 comments

Is there a windows-equivalent to iWeb? I work at an elementary school. I have teachers who want the ease and bells & whistles of iWeb, but we’re all windows here. I don’t care how bloaty the code gets; I just want teachers to look and say “ooooh, pretty!” [more inside]posted by dogwelder at 2:06 PM PST - 4 comments

I'm (stupidly) starting playing ice hockey after 20 years off the ice (I'm 33). After the first game last weekend, I'm apparently in far worse shape than I thought -- and need some ideas for new workouts to get my game on. [more inside]posted by liquado at 1:53 PM PST - 13 comments

I destroyed my metabolism in my teens and early twenties through extreme dieting and now I'm overweight and nothing I do will take the weight off. [more inside]posted by giggleknickers at 1:02 PM PST - 36 comments

I am looking for a server-side application, which will convert Excel documents (separate books or entire documents) along with html files, txt files, and doc files. The application will need to be able to watch folders "HotFolders" and batch convert automatically. I have done a good bit of searching and have not found anything that will work so far. If this was not an application, but was a .dll file this will work as well. Thanks. posted by utch at 12:36 PM PST - 4 comments

So I am running mac mail in 10.4.10 and connecting to an exchange server. It has worked pretty well for a couple of years until today. Now it is locking up and saying that my password is invalid. Our network allows 3 tries and then it locks you out during password entry. I can get it unlocked and I know that the password is correct. I also reset my keychain access thinking that was the problem. Anyone have any suggestions? [more inside]posted by pleuroma at 12:24 PM PST - 7 comments

I've been playing Baseball Superstars 2007 on my phone for the last few weeks, and I love it (despite the frequent freeze-ups on the loading screen)! Are there similar simplified baseball video games for PC? [more inside]posted by c:\awesome at 11:29 AM PST - 6 comments

Grad school questions...
GRE time (Saturday)... I have checked out the past questions asked about free practice sites and found a couple of them useful. I am terrified that I am going to bomb since I just can't seem to wrap my head around any of the math concepts. I haven't take math since HS and that was 16 years ago- but I'm great with statistics. Anyone have any good thoughts on how to use my statistics knowledge and apply it to the math portion? Also any more free practice sites to recommend? [more inside]posted by MayNicholas at 10:57 AM PST - 27 comments

In today's NYTimes House and Home section, there is a picture of a desk table that fits perfectly with a couch. Is there a style or name for this kind of table? Where would I find one? [more inside]posted by geoff. at 10:14 AM PST - 11 comments

Is it possible to open a QuickBooks 2006 company database file in an older version of QuickBooks, namely QuickBooks 2004? Or is there a way to downgrade a 2006 database to a version that would open in 2004? Basically need to open a new database in an old version. Is it possible? posted by doomtop at 10:08 AM PST - 4 comments

I'm looking for music artists (individuals or bands) who are selling their own music via digital downloads (with some specific qualifications) [more inside]posted by nanojath at 9:54 AM PST - 19 comments

I've mostly worked in offices in the past 10 years, but I want to get a serving job. I know I'm capable and I have a tiny bit of experience, but the question is how to frame this on my CV. [more inside]posted by loiseau at 9:40 AM PST - 10 comments

I'm heading to the States in a month, and would like to pick up some Canon EF lenses for my film body (now) and DSLR (later). Interests and budget are after the jump. [more inside]posted by heeeraldo at 9:30 AM PST - 14 comments

So just got typical lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol test but realized afterwards I ate 3.5 hours before blood was drawn...how much will be results be off? [more inside]posted by UMDirector at 9:16 AM PST - 4 comments

This may be crazy dumb talk, but could it be said that when I in Texas, USA make a request over the internet to a server in Helsinki Finland, that some finite physical thing is transported from my computer to the computer there in a continuous fashion? posted by xmutex at 8:48 AM PST - 22 comments

How did I get blacklisted from Google, and how can I get un-blacklisted? I realize this question is similar to one asked back in 2005, but was really hoping that things have changed significantly since then. [more inside]posted by chinese_fashion at 8:37 AM PST - 10 comments

Desperate to telnet: I'm at a crappy pay as you go computer in a hotel in Germany. It's a Windows machine, and the native telnet client is disabled. I downloaded putty, but can't install it or run it. I don't have a flash drive on which to download putty and even if I did, there's no available USB port. I vaguely recall an acquaintance posting about a website from which one could establish a telnet connection (via a Java applet?). I'm a bit of a technotard, but can follow instructions. HELP. I've been out of touch with my friends for two weeks, and am desperate to check in with them. Thanks! posted by ereshkigal45 at 8:26 AM PST - 15 comments

I just moved into a large, white, blocky apartment. I would rather not paint it. Really, it is overwhelmingly white and square. How do you decorate that? [more inside]posted by gmarceau at 8:20 AM PST - 18 comments

I'm buying a new car, I have bad to mediocre credit (my score is 563) and I have an inheritance I could use to pay cash instead. Which is best for me? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 8:02 AM PST - 19 comments

I'm applying for jobs that require a local law enforcement background check, and I suspect that it's turning up information that's [really] detrimental to being hired! What kind of information could they be finding? How could I find out what's on my background check? Finally, is there any way to delicately address these issues in job applications/cover letters without digging myself into a hole? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:50 AM PST - 18 comments

How did you know that you wanted to be a therapist? What made you feel that you could do it? What doubts did you have, and how did you deal with them? If you changed your mind, what persuaded you to do so? What would you tell someone if they were considering becoming a therapist? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 6:50 AM PST - 6 comments

My brother will be going to Iraq eventually. He'd like to film his "war diaries" with a helmet-mounted video camera. He'd like to be able to start and stop recording with a simple remote of some sort. What are his options? [more inside]posted by HE Amb. T. S. L. DuVal at 4:36 AM PST - 9 comments

I'm looking for disturbing image I came across several years ago. It was a flash shot taken in a completely dark auditorium containing several hundred Japanese college age males, in their underwear in complete darkness. Several were hanging from the wall railings and other falling into the pit below,. I seemed to part of an initiation. Ring any bells? posted by Neiltupper at 4:08 AM PST - 9 comments

Should I RMA a refurbished drive sent to me where the website didn't mention is was refurbished? I order a drive a few months ago with 1 year warranty, and it has just failed on me. I looked closer at the drive and it was a refurbish. Details inside. [more inside]posted by lpctstr; at 11:34 PM PST - 5 comments

Will a runner with a lower body weight have a lower risk of injury than a heavier person, all other measures of health, fitness, and experience being equal? [more inside]posted by sequential at 10:40 PM PST - 10 comments

I have a folder of about two thousand .png files. For each file, I need to (1)create a new folder named the same as the currently selected file(minus the extension), and (2)move the file into its eponymous folder. How can I accomplish this using Applescript? posted by 40 Watt at 8:01 PM PST - 7 comments

"My pocket is full of Doppler radar equipment." I have a full page ad torn out of a magazine (Time? Newsweek?) from 3-5 years ago that is for Cingular mMode. Can anyone help me find another copy of this advertisement? [more inside]posted by negative1 at 7:19 PM PST - 7 comments

We broke a glass in the kitchen sink and cleaned it up as best as we could, but now the garbage disposal is jammed. Do we have to call a plumber? [more inside]posted by onlyconnect at 6:34 PM PST - 13 comments

On our Linux web server, for some reason /var/lib/php5 has filled up with files to the point that we can't even get a directory listing. We are running out of inode space for the filesystem. How can we get a directory listing to find out which files need to be removed, and remove them? posted by Dag Maggot at 6:14 PM PST - 7 comments

My wife and I are in San Francisco this weekend -- she is walking the Nike Women's Half Marathon on Sunday and we are looking for some unique things to do while in town.
We are staying at the Renaissance Parc 55 near Union Square and would some suggestions for walking around, specifically Saturday morning/afternoon, Sunday evening, and Monday morning. Thanks! posted by jacobsee at 4:27 PM PST - 19 comments

What are your favorite online forums in which to talk about books? Say why you like each so I can get a good idea of the different kinds of communities. [more inside]posted by snortlebort at 3:49 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm considering writing a book based on email correspondence I've received. Can I use the emails in their entirety, provided I remove the names and addresses? What are the legal issues regarding this? [more inside]posted by PoopyDoop at 3:36 PM PST - 6 comments

Anyone know of places that offer massage workshops in the DC/MD area? I've looked around at some of the local massage schools, but they don't seem to offer public classes and I'm not looking to become a licensed or registered massage therapist, just looking to surprise my honey (hence the anonymity). posted by anonymous at 3:23 PM PST - 3 comments

Any specific suggestions for care package ingredients for a friend who has just had gastric bypass surgery? I want to give her a few small things that might give her a lift (and don't want her to know specifically that it is me asking, hence the anon).
I was thinking, for a young hip chick with a great sense of humor - maybe a small itunes gift card, some comic anthologies, a fun tote bag, sugar free candy? This isn't going to be a massive box or anything, I just want to make her smile during her recovery. posted by anonymous at 3:23 PM PST - 8 comments

Is it possible to copyright a legal agreement? I'd like to do some cut and pasting of a few Terms of Service agreements but don't want to run afoul of the law. posted by Pinwheel at 3:02 PM PST - 24 comments

Two Questions:
1. Which agency is responsible for all the marketing for Google thus far?
2. What is the purpose and objective of Google Creative Lab? I can't get any data even on Google. posted by seeminglee at 2:36 PM PST - 5 comments

Before my hard drive died and I had to reinstall Tiger, I used to be able to trigger dialogue box buttons (e.g. "Yes" or "No") on my mac by typing the first letter of the option I wanted to choose (e.g. "n"). It doesn't work anymore and I have to navigate with the mouse and click on things. How can I activate this feature? posted by 10ch at 1:49 PM PST - 2 comments

Due to budgetary constraints, I've cut back on my daily quad-shot 16 oz. latte and am brewing coffee to take to work in the morning. I've noticed a difference in my moods and energy levels, but, more importantly, brewed coffee does not bring out the poop like the espresso drink does. [more inside]posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 1:47 PM PST - 18 comments

I get really depressed imagining the rest of my life being spent wearing jeans/shirts and my hair pulled back in a ponytail, so I need your help [more inside]posted by icarus at 1:43 PM PST - 27 comments

I am bidding on an item in ebay and suspect that someone is throwing in fake bids. Is this illegal and how do I find out if it is the case? Can ebay trace a fake bid? posted by username68 at 1:23 PM PST - 15 comments

My friends have asked me to design their wedding invitations, and have said I could do whatever I want. Before I present them with my own ideas, I want to show them some cool invitations that have already been done. Have you seen any that struck you as really fabulous, creative or unique? [more inside]posted by billyfleetwood at 1:04 PM PST - 15 comments

What are the military-specific rights and benefits granted to married couples in the United States?
I'm interested in legal and cultural rights/benefits. Bonus personal story inside. [more inside]posted by Infernarl at 1:03 PM PST - 11 comments

How do I make the outside text flow around a text box in Microsoft Word? Right now the text box is sitting on top of the text it's supposed to accompany. I know this is a waste of a question, but I'm in a rush and need to do this today. posted by Ollie at 12:50 PM PST - 3 comments

I am a woman, 49 years old. I am not depressed - my general emotional tone is usually positive and from day to day I move along with energy and interest - but I am having trouble feeling that there's anything to look forward to. [more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:41 PM PST - 35 comments

I don't take good pictures and I think it's putting a crimp in my style online-personal-wise. What can I do to get guys to meet me in person? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 12:41 PM PST - 30 comments

I'm using OpenOffice Writer 2.2 (Windows XP). I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to define a page style from a page I've already created, short of writing everything down and recreating the page. There's got to be a better way. [more inside]posted by jlkr at 11:23 AM PST - 4 comments

Can anyone recommend a quality firm that will help me revise, update, and make my resume the best it can possible be, here in NYC? I am also looking for quality job recruiter or headhunters in NYC as well! [more inside]posted by TwilightKid at 11:20 AM PST - 3 comments

Help me build a device to last the ages - and still function! For a hobby/art project, I'm building a pocket-sized gadget comprised of electronics, gears, metal, glass, wood, plastic, etc. Is there any particular book or other source that stands out as the bible on issues of long-lasting methods and materials? Ie covers questions like how transparent and strong various plastics remain after X years/decades of sun and UV? Which material/method of lubrication for gears will best last decades under X conditions? Which soldier alloy? [more inside]posted by -harlequin- at 10:47 AM PST - 7 comments

Scanning slides and negatives. What level of scanner must I consider to get high res. files from which I can produce sharp, digital prints up to 8" x 10"? Canon offers the CanoScan LiDE 600F for around $140.00 but I'm concerned about the quality of it's scans. posted by tangyraspberry at 10:26 AM PST - 7 comments

(If you are male) Do women meet your gaze/say hello/acknowledge that you exist when you are out walking? This probably seems like a ridiculous question, but it's been bugging me for a long time. [more inside]posted by stinkycheese at 10:17 AM PST - 83 comments

I am doing research about the people who worked on the midway at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 (better known as the Chicago World's Fair). I've run into a bit of a road block. [more inside]posted by plaingurl at 9:33 AM PST - 18 comments

My old Toyota Camry gets a strange oily build up on the inside of the windshield every month and a half--traditional cleaning methods don't work. How do I clean it? Help me not crash and die. [more inside]posted by eralclare at 9:09 AM PST - 26 comments

Our bedroom has a door-another entrance to the apartment. We don't used said door but it leads into the staircase and we hear people going in and out at both fairly late and fairly early times. More importantly, the dog hears them too. I'd like to soundproof the door with materials that can be fairly easily removed when we move out (renters), and that are not that ugly either. [more inside]posted by spacefire at 8:47 AM PST - 13 comments

How do you tailor a resume without lying? I'm branching my job search into other fields, and my most recent education/experience isn't relevant at all. So how do I leave it off (or do I) without looking like I'm lying? [more inside]posted by desjardins at 8:14 AM PST - 19 comments

Does anyone remember a children's game called Ghost? (Not Ghost in the Graveyard.) My dad recalls playing it, but can't recall the rules. Any long memories here? posted by pipti at 7:55 AM PST - 13 comments

Why is my laptop limited to 2Gb total memory, according to the specs? It has 2 PC2-5300 DDR2 memory slots, and the manufacturer sells a 2Gb card for it (in addition to 1Gb cards). Maybe a dumb question, but why can't it take two 2Gb cards? It's a Toshiba Satellite L45-S7423. posted by DarkForest at 6:56 AM PST - 10 comments

How do I make an uninsured hit and run driver pay? I want him off the street. I do not want to do this guy any favors. How do I notify the community of this menace. [more inside]posted by Wong Fei-hung at 6:14 AM PST - 14 comments

Hello folks, I am looking for the name of an old poem recited to me by my father in my childhood. It is similar in style to the 'Dangerous Dan McGrew' I think, but is about two men stranded on a desert island after their ship sinks. Initially they are strangers, but after realising they have a mutual friend, become good friends themselves. Things continue well until, I believe, they spot the mutual friend on a ship passing by. They notice however that the ship is a Pirate ship, and upon realising this, absolve their friendship in the knowledge that their mutual friend is of ill repute! This is all going on old memory, so I could be wrong in certain aspects. posted by ferd at 5:31 AM PST - 2 comments

I use VNC on computer A, 1680x1050 resolution, to control computer B, 1920x1080 resolution. This results in a lot of scrolling. Anyone know of a better solution that's also free or very cheap? [more inside]posted by aerotive at 2:38 AM PST - 10 comments

We're having a Rugby World Cup celebration/commiseration at work this week, and we each have to bring an edible contribution that relates to one of the competing countries. All good fun so far, except that I've been given Namibia. What to do? [more inside]posted by une_heure_pleine at 2:16 AM PST - 6 comments

I have approximately 230 dvds I'd like to sell. I have been to some local shops that advertise they buy used dvds, and I keep getting told that no one is buying right now. I'm not looking to get rich, but a little cash would be nice. All are in good condition with the original artwork/cases. (Some we never even opened)
Besides ebay, any suggestions? Has anyone had experience selling large quantities of DVDs to a reliable buyer, either in the San Diego area or online? [more inside]posted by routergirl at 11:32 PM PST - 20 comments

I'm dealing with the fallout from coming out to my deeply religious immediate family. For years, I had prepared for their tears, their anger, their remonstrances, their appeals to the Bible, and all of those have come. What I hadn't prepared for was how disappointed I would be, and how fundamental and lonely that disappointment would be. Help? [more inside]posted by grrarrgh00 at 9:22 PM PST - 38 comments

What are the best chicago-style deep-dish and/or stuffed pizzas? I need recommendations from people who have tried the major contenders. I've tried the Pizzeria Uno chains (I know--supposedly much worse than the original) and thought them mediocre. I've also mail-ordered Lou Malnati's and thought it good but not great. Any ideas for the most ecstatic pizza experiences I'm yet to have? posted by shivohum at 9:04 PM PST - 34 comments

Embarrassing-lack-of-computer-knowledge-question: So I'm using a new-fangled Mac. My Mac at home is simple: you push a button and the CD tray comes out. There is no button on this Mac. If I had the time, I would eventually find out how to do this, but I'm rushed today and quickly need to burn a CD. How do I open the tray? posted by lazy robot at 8:36 PM PST - 19 comments

My monitor is alternately displaying a message "OSD Lockout" (2 x 5 inch box in the middle of the screen) and then displays the actual OSD (on screen display). I cannot bring the OSD up, I can't move the selector when the OSD pops up on its own, I can't get the messages to stop. It will loop endlessly. Any ideas? [more inside]posted by johnstein at 7:56 PM PST - 3 comments

I've got a series 1 Tivo thats become a paper-weight ever since I upgraded to a series 2.
So my question is, can I somehow hook up the 1 to the 2 as a sort of back-up machine? posted by ducktape at 7:50 PM PST - 5 comments

An older female relative who lives in the midwest has recently been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. She's been suffering from it for a few years already, so she's in bed most of the time at this point. What can I do to help? [more inside]posted by anonymous at 7:49 PM PST - 9 comments

OK, so there was the must I submit to monthly waxing question, which brought out tons of responses from "no, do what you want" to "yes, you should if you're dating" to "you're being oppressed by a patriarchal society" to "it smacks of pedophilia".
That being said, what are the opinions of men trimming/shaving their below the belt region? More specifically, women, would you be turned off or disgusted by a guy who trimmed or shaved? posted by anonymous at 7:49 PM PST - 53 comments

Calling all cooks! I have moved from California to New Zealand and there is almost no mexican food to be had here in the land of the long white cloud. I'm having to learn to make everything from scratch so please give me your best mexican recipes! [more inside]posted by supercrayon at 7:46 PM PST - 28 comments

I'm thinking of dressing as Lucy Van Pelt for Halloween this year, but I'm not sure how to go about finding a costume authentic-looking enough to be recognizable, as opposed to just being some girl with black flippy hair and a blue dress. Also, I can't sew. Any ideas? posted by odayoday at 7:35 PM PST - 10 comments

In many old houses once you break through the lath-and-plaster (or it breaks on you and you need to repair it) there is a disgusting amount of "coal dust" that comes out. Where do these carbon particles come from?
Yes old houses used to be heated with coal. But I assume the furnaces had chimneys to vent the combustion products. So why is there so much dust within walls and ceilings? posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 7:14 PM PST - 24 comments

Finance Filter: I have a second loan on my condo at a rate of 7.75%.. I did this to avoid PMI. I have the cash to pay it off.. 35k or so.. Is it likely a good idea to pay it off and forgo the tax breaks I'm getting on the interest, to avoid the 7.75% rate? [more inside]posted by seinfeld at 7:07 PM PST - 7 comments

I've lived with my best friend and another good friend for 3 years. I've known them for 7--since we were freshmen in college. I've come to the conclusion that I'm bisexual, and that I have a bit of a crush on my best friend. I'm having trouble telling him that I'm not straight. I've read everyone's advice not to tell him I'm crushing on him, because there is a good chance that would be messy. What is a good way to tell him that I'm bi though? [more inside]posted by rocket_johnny at 6:59 PM PST - 32 comments

My iPod/iTunes is completely out of control. I have 8,000+ songs, and they are minimally rated. My default rating when I add tracks is 4 and I downgrade tracks if I don’t want them to come up in shuffle, which runs off a playlist that’s “all songs rated 4 or higher.” This just ain’t cutting it and I find myself skipping more songs than I listen to. [more inside]posted by SampleSize at 6:53 PM PST - 9 comments

Is there a support group for a charming, literate, young, kissable workaholic media professional who is trying to be less of a flake in his personal life? [more inside]posted by parmanparman at 4:36 PM PST - 20 comments

I am needing a portal for multiple-client sign-in. I want my clients to be able to go to a common front page and enter their username and password and be taken to an area just for them. There will be messaging, files, video, audio, photos, etc. that is just for their use. Each client would need an area with their material. I have around 20-25 clients. I probably need no more than 250MB of storage for their "stuff' per client. What do I do? Something ready-to-go and hosted? Something I run from my own shared server? I'm not even sure what I am needing is called. Any comments/suggestions appreciated - thanks for the help! posted by Gerard Sorme at 3:46 PM PST - 8 comments

What does buddhism/hinduism/christian say about forgiving self.
I am not able to forgive myself for the mistakes i made and mistakes i will be making in the future and keep torturing myself saying i should be perfect.
I am not able to change myself as a result.
Any other insight on self-forgiveness. posted by mot123 at 3:20 PM PST - 28 comments

I'm making a compilation CD for my little girls (ages six and three) and I'm looking for happy stuff with female vocalists that has the same sort of vibe as Manu Chao's bongo bong, and/or Sublime's happier stuff, but that is appropriate for, you know, little kids. [more inside]posted by craniac at 2:12 PM PST - 30 comments

Can anyone suggest an inexpensive NAS solution for a Mac that could plug into my linksys wifi router? I already own a USB 300gig hard drive that I would like to use. I won't get an airport express as I already have a wifi router. The solutions I've seen used the linux file system. I'd like something that I can use to backup my MacBook over the wifi at night using Time Machine, the new backup solution in Leopard. Thanks. posted by jeffreyclong at 1:57 PM PST - 6 comments

This page lists all the planned manned shuttle flights until the shuttle is retired in 2010. Where can I find a list of planned manned space flights after this? posted by blue_beetle at 1:46 PM PST - 6 comments

I had an idea that, if patentable, would be worth quite a bit. However the chance of it being patentable is low (about 10-20%) and wouldn't be marketable by itself and would most likely require sale to a computer manufacturer. Are there any businesses that handle these kinds of ideas for a % of ownership in the potential patent? [more inside]posted by JakeLL at 12:29 PM PST - 19 comments

Aside from the everyday Emergency Kit contents, what are some useful items to have during a long term emergency? What would MacGyver pack in his long term emergency survival kit? Extra points for creativity, cheapness (in cost, not quality), and simplicity. [more inside]posted by jytsai at 12:17 PM PST - 22 comments

So he's younger, I'm older. We are good friends.. we have fun.. but I find myself falling in love with him. There are many reasons to not let myself do it, so how do I stop those butterflies? [more inside]posted by TerraM at 11:51 AM PST - 23 comments

I have a laptop cooling fan which runs on USB power. It works well but it's a fairly monotonous drone. The internal fans are linked to the cooling unit and the temperature monitor, so they operate based on the current temperature. Is there any way I can control the USB fan based on temperature as well? [more inside]posted by Mr. Banana Grabber at 11:17 AM PST - 3 comments

How can I help my child learn to pay better attention to instructions and concentrate on his work, without turning him into a perfectionist? [more inside]posted by greenmagnet at 10:42 AM PST - 28 comments

How can I setup automated drop folder (hot folder) printing? I would like a folder to be watched, and when a PDF gets copied to this folder it gets printed right away. [more inside]posted by monsta coty scott at 9:43 AM PST - 3 comments

Why can't I get the movie "Quiet man" from Netflix? For a while now it has shown availability "Unknown" and just shows up in the "Saved" section. A couple of months ago, it was in my queue but it always had "Very Long Wait". posted by fx3000 at 8:49 AM PST - 15 comments

I bought a new HP laptop. Vista is installed, I am going to install XP. If I want to reinstall Vista later on, after an SP or two, how can I reinstall w/ my legal copy's credentials? [more inside]posted by jacobjacobs at 8:24 AM PST - 12 comments

Interviewing for an Internet Support position. what are some webpages i can use to bone up on for it. Last time i didnt good but i wish to do excellent this time when i last took the test. posted by Rolandkorn at 7:34 AM PST - 11 comments

How do you maintain sight of your long-term goals? I chronically sacrifice long-term success for short-term gains and it's not working out for me. [more inside]posted by schroedinger at 7:14 AM PST - 20 comments

New York Creative Writing/Critical Theory PHD: I am currently undertaking an MA in Creative Writing and Critical Theory in London, and plan to go on to PHD after I finish. I would ideally like to go to an East coast USA/New York university to do this (for several reasons). I'd like some help with finding a good list of possible institutions... [more inside]posted by 0bvious at 5:48 AM PST - 27 comments

It's hell being the rage, so I am trying to centralize and virtual-office-ify my scattered work life. E-mail and voicemail is easy enough to virtualize, but is there a good birectional online fax system? [much more inside] [more inside]posted by rokusan at 5:30 AM PST - 8 comments

On a whim my girlfriend started us watching the 90's cartoon series Gargoyles together. For some bizarre reason this has turned into a fun little bonding ritual. Unfortunately we've almost reached the end of Season Two: Volume One, which is all that has been released on DVD (When's the rest coming out?). What should we watch next? She had the idea to watch the old X-Men cartoon series. What other retro shows have a little bit of that little kid fun, and a little bit of all-ages appeal? posted by shanevsevil at 5:25 AM PST - 49 comments

How/when do you change gears on a multiple-speed bicycle? Out of the 21 gears, there are 11 or so useful/unique ratios. So, do you stay in in one front ratio and only use the rear-derailleur until you have to shift down, or do you shift through the all the available ratios, double-shifting when necessary. [more inside]posted by nielm at 2:46 AM PST - 22 comments

9 other friends and I are all planning to drive down into Mexico for our fall break. We will be going in two cars, one of which we borrowed from someone not coming on the trip. We would be staying for about 72 hours (maybe just slightly more). What do we need to do to prepare? Any other general tips for a weekend trip to Ensenada? [more inside]posted by vegetableagony at 12:49 AM PST - 6 comments

Tim McCarver and Joe Buck were unusually quiet during tonight's broadcast of the Red Sox-Indians game. Does anyone know if there was a specific reason for this? [more inside]posted by MidAtlantic at 8:19 PM PST - 25 comments

While growing up in Houston in the mid-late 90s, I somehow became aware of several local phone-based voice computer entertainment systems (for lack of a better term). They offered games (in which you punched numbers on the phone keypad to play) like Telefun Trivia, Operation Desert Wolf and something called Pika Farmer, voice dating services (in which you listened to or recorded personal voice ads), random informational services (a life expectancy calculator), horoscopes, news and weather, etc. - all via a menu system at one phone number. What were/are these services called and what other information is available about them? Does anyone else actually remember them? [more inside]posted by dustinAFN at 8:11 PM PST - 20 comments

Carl Sagan filter: what is the thing that Carl is releasing into the wind so profoundly in this shot from the beginning of Cosmos? I always understood it to be a dandelion seed, but it doesn't look like one I would recognize... What is that thing? posted by Gankmore at 6:25 PM PST - 12 comments

I'm interested in finding out more about gypsies (the Roma or Romani people) in the country of Argentina: both historical as well as contemporary accounts (in the news/in popular media/literature/culture). [more inside]posted by muymuy at 5:51 PM PST - 2 comments

Tattoo Filter; This question has a few parts; 1. Can the hive recommend a tattoo artist that does exceptional work in the South Florida area (I have heard of the Miami Ink Guys) 2. I am planning to get a half sleeve done and what like your suggestions/comments/antidotes about getting the work done. 3. I would also like to hear from the people that have a half sleeve/ full sleeve about how they picked the content of their tattoo and what went into the planning of it. Thanks in advance! posted by boyinmiami at 5:16 PM PST - 8 comments

Where can I find articles online that deal with the "culture poaching" or "culture jamming" associated with machinima? Also, if you can, please refer me to some recently popular clips. Thanks. posted by time to put your air goggles on! at 4:26 PM PST - 1 comment

My group at work needs access to a file which I maintain and vice versa. We'd like to keep the files on our own laptops so we can edit them whenever, but maintain a regularly updated copy on a server share to which we all have access. [more inside]posted by Kid Charlemagne at 3:32 PM PST - 6 comments

My 20-year-old brother has cut off contact with me and our parents, dropped out of school, and dug himself into debt. One visit from our dad went well but made no actual difference. What the hell is going on, and should I bother visiting him? [more inside]posted by moonlet at 3:05 PM PST - 28 comments

Here is the deal.
I have a client who brought in a hard drive with a "smoked" circuit board. He is filing a claim on his insurance for it AND the data that was on it.
Fine. BUT...he wants us to "prove" that the circuit board failure happened as a result of a power surge and NOT as a natural failure of the board.
I don't believe that is possible at this point.
I am a computer tech, so I am looking for input from attorneys, electricians, and anyone else who can proffer and opinion. Thanks in advance! posted by titans13 at 2:42 PM PST - 15 comments

I'm looking for a very small gauge chain, I think the style is called Curb or Gourmette, its not for jewelry so if its called something else i wouldn't be surprised... [more inside]posted by Mesach at 2:14 PM PST - 9 comments

I'm thinking of applying for another position inside my company that would basically be a parallel move -- same position, different group. How should I structure my resume? [more inside]posted by mikeh at 1:35 PM PST - 1 comment

Like many women, I used to have hips that measured slightly larger than my bust. Now my ass is disappearing as my rack carries on. Is this just aging at work, or is this typical of weight loss? [more inside]posted by rosemere at 1:26 PM PST - 9 comments

I'd like to be Captain Kirk for halloween. Anyone on MeFi have any ideas/experience as to how to find/fashion/fake a gold Star Trek TOS shirt/tunic thingy for a halloween costume? I've got black pants, leather boots, and good hair, but I'm fairly broke, and need to come up with a convincing Kirk costume top without breaking the $20 mark. Also, I don't really know how to sew.
I'm about 6'3, 50" chest, 42" waist
Thoughts? posted by stenseng at 12:56 PM PST - 15 comments

Howdy Hive-
Back in the 80's I used to write in journals that were made of recycled paper. I'm trying to locate them (or something similar) again, and having no luck. The paper was gray, a bit rough & raggedy, and very, very soft. It was bound as a hardcover book, with a simple stamp as a decoration (one said 'art', another said 'dream'). The only drawback was that the paper absorbed a lot of ink, so it was necessary to write in ballpoint pen (or risk draining a lot of sharpie markers). Even if it's not the exact same journal, I would love your suggestions for something similar. I haven't found another blank book yet that is as satisfying.
Thanks in advance, y'all! posted by potterybliss at 12:43 PM PST - 2 comments

Wikipedia says that Sara Jane Moore, who tried to assassinate President Ford on September 22, 1975, was due for parole on September 21, 2007.
I did a little searching, but I couldn't find any other mention of it. Does anybody know what happened? Or did Wikipedia get it wrong? posted by 314/ at 12:31 PM PST - 12 comments

I got him out of black t shirts all the time (they are fine, but not for everything) and into bowling shirts, camp shirts, cubavera shirts, or short sleeve guayabera type shirts (usually in black, only sometimes with a pinup girl on them). Now he needs something just like that but with LONG sleeves. [more inside]posted by pywacket at 12:04 PM PST - 17 comments

Our 9-year-old yellow lab who has had a full ACL on one knee and a partial ACL on the other is getting worse. How can we exercise him properly without putting him in pain? [more inside]posted by k8t at 10:26 AM PST - 17 comments

My wife and I both loathe our Motorola RAZRs, and fortunately, we're able to replace them at subsidized, new-customer pricing at the end of this month (October 28th, to be specific). We're Verizon Wireless customers for a slew of reasons, and are going to stick with VZW; does anyone have recommendations for phones we should consider? [more inside]posted by delfuego at 9:45 AM PST - 24 comments

I'm creating a very simple web page and inserting images into the cells of a table. However, I can still see faint lines around the borders of the images. What am I doing wrong? [more inside]posted by gfrobe at 9:05 AM PST - 11 comments

I'd like to be a snake handler, but live in Chicago and have no professional snake experience. Where could I get some snake related experience? [more inside]posted by youngergirl44 at 8:58 AM PST - 10 comments

[ancient latin or greek-filter] For an mock ceremony at a party for an friend I need some help with some translations to latin or greek to some diplomas.
What would "Settle for less" or "Aspiring to mediocrity" or "Aiming for second place" become in ancient latin or greek? [more inside]posted by Rabarberofficer at 7:28 AM PST - 7 comments

I was in Thailand last year and bought some shirts from "The Roman Collection" which were made in Bangkok. These shirts are my favorites and not only fit well but are also in the style I like. The problem is that I can't seem to find where to buy them online and get them shipped to me. Please help me keep enjoying dressing myself. posted by josher71 at 6:20 AM PST - 2 comments

Any ideas how to generate a list of manufacturing companies over 100 employees in Australia, without paying a list broker for an outdated use-once call list? posted by dripped at 4:20 AM PST - 2 comments